WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheaties Look To Rebound On Home Ice

Published on March 24, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- The Brandon Wheat Kings hope that home ice advantage will help turn the tide this week ad they return to the friendly confines of Westman Communications Group Place for games three, four and five (if necessary) of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

The Wheat Kings trail the best of seven Western Hockey League opening round playoff series two games to nothing after losing back to back one-goal games in Lethbridge over the weekend.

"In the big picture we know we have potentially the next three games at home," Wheat Kings' assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk told Tyler Crayston of CKX Television Sunday. "We have to start with the first game (Tuesday) and if we take the first game that'll lead to the second game and its kind of a trickle effect. We've got to have a good first period, a good start and things will go from there."

During the regular season, Brandon compiled the second best record in the conference on home ice, going 26-9-1-0 and enter game three riding a six game winning streak at Westman Place.

"Playoffs is all about home ice advantage," says Gylywoychuk. "We knew that somewhere in this series we were going to have to win a game in Lethbridge...and if everything lines up right, we'll take care of business in Brandon (this week)."

In order to be successful Tuesday and get right back in this series, the Wheat Kings will need to stay out of the penalty box. The least penalized team in the WHL during the regular season, the Wheat Kings were forced to kill off fourteen minor penalties during the first two games and Lethbridge took advantage, scoring five powerplay goals en route to the 2-0 series lead.

Brandon meanwhile was 1-13 with the man advantage.

Tickets sales for game three on Tuesday night have been disappointing. As of 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, less than 2,000 tickets had been purchased for Brandon's first playoff home game of the year.

During the regular season, the Wheat Kings averaged better than 4,100 fans per home game, which represented their second best attendance in franchise history.

Game time Tuesday and Wednesday nights is 7:00 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2008


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