WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheaties end trip on winning note

Published on January 29, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Cranbrook, B.C. -- The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings completed a 4-game in six night western road swing Sunday night with an impressive 3-0 victory over the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, B.C.

The Wheat Kings fired 20 shots on Kootenay goalkeeper Taylor Dakers in the opening period Sunday, scoring twice, en route to their second straight road win. With the victory, the Wheat Kings finished the road trip with a 2-2-0 record and return home with a healthy 12 point cushion atop the WHL's Eastern Division.

Brandon enters Wednesday's game against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes with a 27-17-2-6 record, good for 62 points. The Wheat Kings are well on their way to making the WHL playoff party, for the 14th time in the past fifteen years.

Backed by another solid start from former WHL Rookie of the Year Tyler Plante, who made 24 saves for his club record 10th career shutout, the Wheat Kings snapped Kootenay's franchise record 12-game home ice winning streak and gave Brandon its first victory in Cranbrook in five years.

After opening the trip with back to back setbacks in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, the Wheat Kings kicked off the weekend with a 4-2 win over the Hitmen in Calgary on Friday night. Rookie Juraj Simek scored his first goal since returning from the world junior hockey championships in Sweden on Friday and then added another in Sunday's win over the Ice.

Defenceman Mark Louis and captain Mark Derlago, with his team leading 32nd goal of the season, rounded out Brandon's scoring on Sunday. Derlago's goal also snapped an 0-29 powerplay drought for the Wheat Kings, who will be putting a 4-game home ice winning streak on the line against the 'Canes Wednesday night.

Wednesday's game is the second Rain Check game of the 2006-07 season, which means any unused ticket can be exchanged at the Keystone Centre box office for this game. The Wheat Kings will close out the week on Friday with a game against the second place Swift Current Broncos.

On Saturday night, the hockey club will host the annual CKLQ Sportsman's Dinner in the Keystone Centre's UCT Pavillion. The event will feature comedian Derek Edwards and ESPN hockey analyst Barry Melrose. As of last Friday, only a handful of tickets remained for the event, which will include a Celebrity Sports Auction. Among the items up for grabs this year will be autographed framed photos from Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, Steve Yzerman and Hall of Fame goalkeeper Patrick Roy, as well as autographed jerseys from Tampa Bay's Ryan Craig, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators and Atlanta's Marian Hossa.

Tickets are $90 + GST each and can be reserved by calling the Wheat Kings' office at 726-3535.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2007


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