GAME PREVIEW: Wheat Kings vs Ice – Pre-Season Game 1
Brandon, MB – The Wheat Kings open up their 2022 WHL Pre-Season schedule with a home game tonight at Westoba Place at 7pm. One of ten games across the WHL tonight.
Brandon enters the pre-season with roster battles across all three positions. This could be the first chance Wheat Kings fans get a chance to see a number of players playing their first WHL games in the Wheat City. The 34th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft, Defenceman Andrei Malyavin fills out the final import spot on the roster, joining veteran forward Zakhar Polshakov.
A pair of former first round picks, Joby Baumuller (12th overall, 2022) and Caleb Hadland (22nd overall, 2021) could also step on the Westoba Place ice in live action for the first time tonight. 16-year-old forward Carter Klippenstein from Lethbridge, AB and 17-year-old forward Evan Groening from Niverville, MB have impressed in Training Camp and will continue to push for a roster spot throughout the pre-season.
The Wheat Kings announced the signing of 18-year-old prospect Matthew Henry yesterday, making him eligible to play in tonight’s game as well. Henry has junior Hockey experience playing in the SJHL for the Battlefords North Stars last season.
Between the pipes two rookie hopefuls in 16-year-old Ethan Eskit and 18-year-old Nicholas Jones look to make their case to join the big club this season. Carson Bjarnason returns for his WHL sophomore season after representing Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer in Red Deer, AB.
Brandon welcomes the reigning East Division Champion Winnipeg Ice tonight in the beginning of a home-and-home series between the two teams.
Doors open at 6pm with puck drop scheduled for 7pm. Adult tickets are $11 and Youth/Child are $7 for tonight’s match-up, regular Keystone Center Agency fees apply.
You can purchase your tickets by visiting the Box Office, calling 204-726-3555 or purchasing online HERE
