ASSANTE UNVEILS TOP 40 WHEAT KINGS
Brandon, Manitoba – In celebration of Brandon’s 40th Anniversary in the Western Hockey League, the Wheat Kings in association with Assante Wealth Management is pleased to announce that high scoring left-winger Brian Propp, all star defenceman Wade Redden and former captain Ryan Craig finished 1-2-3 in this year’s Fan voting for the Top Forty Players in franchise history.
A former first round draft choice of the Philadelphia Flyers (14th overall) in the 1979 National Hockey League entry draft, Propp (seen bottom left on front cover photo) is Brandon’s all time leading scorer with 511 points including 219 goals. In fifteen NHL seasons, Propp scored 425 goals and 1,004 points in 1,016 games. A 2-time WHL scoring champion (’77-78 and ’78-79), Propp played for the Flyers, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars and Hartford Whalers.
The WHL’s Top Rookie in 1993-94, Redden played three years in Brandon, scoring 27 goals and 153 points in 178 games. Chosen second overall in the 1995 NHL entry draft, by the New York Islanders, the Hillmond, Saskatchewan native was dealt to the Ottawa Senators where he has developed into one of the best blueliners in the NHL. A two time gold medal winner as a member of Canada’s World Junior Team, Redden helped Canada capture the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. In 750 career NHl games, he has 95 goals and 371 points.
One of three players to be chosen by the Wheat Kings in the second round of the 1997 WHL bantam draft, Ryan Craig spent five seasons in Brandon, playing a total of 302 games (6th on the club’s all time list for games played), scoring 137 goals and 268 points. Chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 8th round (255) of the 2002 entry draft, “Craiger” has been a valuable member of the NHL club for the past two seasons. In 113 games with the Lightning, he has 28 goals and 54 points.
The Wheat Kings’ Top 40 Players of all time were determined by fan voting on the WHL club’s official web site, located at www.wheatkings.com
Rounding out the top ten were right-winger Jordin Tootoo of the NHL’s Nashville Predators, former Winnipeg Jet Bill Derlago, Winkler’s Eric Fehr (Washington Capitals), Marty Murray (Los Angeles Kings), current Atlanta Thrasher assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, Capitals’ head coach Glen Hanlon and WHL goal scoring record holder Ray Ferraro.
A former member of the Portland Winter Hawks, Ferraro holds the League’s Single Season goal scoring record of 108 goals, set during the 1983-84 campaign. Hanlon meanwhile holds the franchise record for most games (172) and minutes played (9,805)by a Brandon goalkeeper.
The following thirty players (listed in alphabetical order) were also voted to the team by western Manitoba hockey fans:
rRW Ray Allison
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Note: Father and Son Combination
Of the 40 players chosen, twenty-eight players were forwards, there were eight defencemen and four goalkeepers including the only active Wheat King to be chosen – Tyler Plante. Only three players – Byran Hextall, Bill Fairbairn and Juha Widing wore Wheat King colors before Brandon joined the WCHL in 1967.
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“Assante Wealth Management is proud to recognize the top forty Wheat Kings of all time, as chosen by the fans,” says local Financial Planning Advisor Todd Chastko. “I am sure that this list will start a healthy debate among local hockey fans for years to come.”
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Ten of the 40 players including the likes of Redden, Murray and Schaefer took to the ice during the nineties; Odgers, Glowa and Ferraro were among eleven players from the eighties to be selected while Propp, McCrimmon and Boschman were among ten to play during the seventies. While three skated during the sixties, another six including Fehr, Stone and Konsorada were members of the Wheat Kings since the turn of the century.
For more information on the Assante Wealth Management Wheat Kings’ Top 40 be sure to visit www.wheatkings.com and click on Assante.
About Assante Weath Management: Founded in 1995, Assante Wealth Management is a leading provider of integrated wealth management solutions, designed to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families and businesses across Canada.
Our advisors and their clients are at the centre of our business and are supported by the exceptional investment management team and wealth planning group housed at our sister-company, United Financial Corporation. We are a principal distributor of United Financial’s customized, cutting-edge, solutions.
