WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheaties Playoff Prep Continues

Published on March 17, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, MB. -- When the Brandon Wheat Kings take to the ice on Friday night for the first game of their best of 7 Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series, they will be facing off against the Swift Current Broncos in post-season play for the first time in eight years.

In 2002, the Wheat Kings defeated the Broncos four games to one in the Eastern Semi-Finals en route to an exciting 7-game series against the Red Deer Rebels in the Eastern Conference Final.

Overall, this year's opening round series will mark the fifth time that Brandon has faced a Bronco team in post-season play, with the first two series coming against the Lethbridge Broncos - in 1977 and in 1984 when the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair forced two games of the series to the Virden Arena. Led by the likes of Ron Hextall, Cam Plante and Ray Ferraro, the Wheat Kings ousted Ken Wregget's Broncos in five games.

Since moving to Swift Current in the eighties, the Broncos have met Brandon twice in post-season play. In 2001, Swift Current defeated the Wheat Kings four games to two in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

As for this year's match-up, Brandon finished second in the WHL this season with an impressive 50-18-1-3 record, good for 104 points while the Broncos went 37-30-1-4 to end up seventh in the Eastern Conference.

While the Wheat Kings led the league in goals, the Broncos relied on Winnipeg's Cody Eakin and the netminding tandem of Morgan Clark and Mark Friesen. Clark compiled an impressive 2.92 goals against average and a.907 save percentage in 46 games this season while Eakin finished 9th in league scoring with 47 goals and 91 points.

Tickets to the first two games of the series are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca.

After averaging over 5,000 fans per game during the final month of the regular season, the Wheat Kings report that less than three thousand tickets have been purchased for each of this weekend's games.

Because of the Womens World Curling Championship in Swift Current, the Broncos's home games in this series will be played at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

Following is a complete schedule of the Wheat Kings - Broncos' playoff series:

Game 1 - Friday, March 19th @ Westman Place

Game 2 - Saturday, March 20th @ Westman Place

Game 3 - Tuesday, March 23rd @ Regina

Game 4 - Wednesday, March 24th @ Regina

Game 5 - Friday, March 26th @ Westman Place (if necessary)

Game 6 - Monday, March 29th @ Regina (if necessary)

Game 7 - Wednesday, March 31st (To be determined)

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2010


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