WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheaties-Pats In First Place Showdown

December 4, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba -- Two bitter Western Hockey League Division rivals face off Tuesday night in Regina in what will be a battle for first place in the Eastern Division.

The Pats have occupied top spot for much of the 2007-08 season and begin the week with a record of 19-11-0-1. The Wheat Kings meanwhile continue to climb the Eastern Conference standings and enter Tuesday's game - the final of a 3-game road trip - with an impressive 19-9-0-1 mark and currently have two games in hand on their Eastern Division rival. While Brandon takes a 5-game winning streak into Tuesday's game, the Pats have gone 3-0-0-1 in their last four.

As for the Conference, Regina, Brandon and Kootenay are currently tied for third place with 39 points, one behind the second place Lethbridge Hurricanes and only four back of the front running Calgary Hitmen.

Tuesday is the fourth meeting of the season between these two teams with Brandon leading the series two games to one, with all three games won by the home team. Matt Lowry (2-1-3) and Daniel Bartek (1-2-3) lead the Wheat Kings in scoring against the Pats while veteran netminder Joe Caligiuri, who enters Tuesday's game riding a personal 5-game winning streak, has compiled a 1.68 goals against average and a stellar .940 save percentage against Regina.

20-year old Tyler Dittmer continues to lead the Wheat Kings in scoring with 21 goals and 37 points, good for 9th place in the WHL scoring race. His 21 goals are fourth best in the league this season. Meanwhile the former AAA Midget Wheat King is currently riding a 5-game (5-2-7) point scoring streak.

Dittmer is one of two Wheat Kings with at least a point in five straight games. The other is 16-year old rookie Brayden Schenn. The club's Tip Top Tailors Player of the Month for November has five goals and 9 points during the streak and goes into Tuesday's game as the WHL's top scoring rookie with twelve goals and 26 points in 29 games.

Tuesday's game can be heard on 880 CKLQ, beginning with Bruce Luebke's pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

Following the game the Wheat Kings will return home for a 3-game home stand, scheduled to begin Friday night at Westman Communications Group Place, against the visiting Saskatoon Blades. Friday's game will feature the 18th Annual Kids Loonie Scramble, sponsored by Westoba Credit Union. Eight lucky fans (12 and under) will have a chance to scramble their way to $500 in cold, hard loonies. Tickets to Friday's game are on sale now at the Keystone box office. Fans can also order by phone at 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2007


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