WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheat Kings Welcome Blades Tuesday

October 7, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Brandon Wheat Kings 4-game Western Hockey League homestand continues Tuesday night as they welcome the Saskatoon Blades to Westman Place.

The Wheat Kings enter the game with a 3-3-0 record (2-2-0 at home) and are coming off a split of a weekend doubleheader against Red Deer and Regina.

While splitting the opening two games of the homestand this past weekend is far from perfect, veteran Andrew Clark told Bruce Luebke of 880 CKLQ that he believes they have plenty to build on.

"I thought we took a couple steps forward as compared to last weekend," says Clark. "We're just going to have a couple of good days of practice and look forward to Tuesday's game."

The Saskatoon Blades meanwhile enter Tuesday's game riding the high of beating the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers 5-2. Lorne Molleken's club is currently 3-4-0, good for six points and tied with Brandon for eleventh place in the Eastern Conference. Both clubs are just four points behind third place Lethbridge entering this week's play.

Leading the Blades in scoring has been left-winger Derek Hulak with a goal and 7 points, followed by Burke Gallimore and Curtis Hamilton with five points each. Veteran goalkeeper Braden Holtby has appeared in five of the Blades' first 7 games and has compiled a 2.62 goals against average and a stellar .911 save percentage.

17-year old Saskatoon product Brayden Schenn and veteran Matt Lowry lead Brandon with six points in six games while second year netminder Andrew Hayes has appeared in four of the Wheat Kings' first six games, compiling a 2.95 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.

Tonight is the first game of the season between these two Eastern Division rivals. In 2007-08, the Wheat Kings were 5-2-1-0 against the Blades including a perfect 4-0-0 mark at Westman Place. Brandon's "Baby Blue Line" were dominate during last year's season series, combing for fifteen goals and 33 points in eight games. Glennie scored six times, Calvert fired five while Schenn added four.

Puck drop tonight is 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or by going online at ticketmaster.ca

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