A BUSY WEEKEND ON TAP
Brandon, MB. — The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to get back on track this weekend when they play host to the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Friday and the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday.
Winless in seven games (0-5-1-1), the Wheat Kings enter the weekend with a record of 28-25-6-2, good for 64 points and seventh place in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. Brandon is currently two points back of sixth place Swift Current but only four ahead of both Prince Albert and Red Deer as all three teams battle for the final two playoff berths.
While Brandon has plenty to play for this weekend, the Hitmen are currently deadlocked with Edmonton for top spot in both the Central Division and Eastern Conference. The Hitmen are currently 40-15-3-3 and 8-2-0 in their last ten games. Moose Jaw meanwhile is 15-35-3-6 and occupy tenth place in the 12-team conference.
In addition to facing off against one of, if not the hottest team in the WHL Friday night, the Wheat Kings will again be without a number of regulars as the injury bug continues to bite the WHL club.
Among those that have been sidelined since this 7-game drought began are veterans John Quenneville, Jayce Hawryluk, Rene Hunter, Richard Nejezchleb and Kord Pankewicz as well as rookie forward Peter Quenneville. To make matters worse, veteran blueliner Colton Waltz has had his suspension finalized by the WHL and will miss both weekend games.
Waltz was suspended earlier this week under supplemental discipline for an unpenalized hit on Regina’s Dryden Hunt during Monday’s loss to the Pats. He is eligible to return to the lineup when the Wheat Kings close out a 4-game homestand Wednesday night against Lethbridge.
Two players that will be in the lineup tonight and eyeing milestones are veterans Chad Robinson and captain Ryan Pulock. A first round draft choice of the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders, Pulock has scored 59 career goals and is just two shy of equalling the franchise record of Most Goals by a Defenceman, which is currently held by former Brandon all star Brad McCrimmon.
Friday night will also be Pulock’s 251st career WHL game. As for Robinson, he will be playing his 250th career WHL game Friday when he takes to the ice to meet the Hitmen in what is being billed the 1st Annual J & G Homes Ltd. VIP Kids Night.
In addition to providing complimentary ticket vouchers to over two thousand K-4 students within the Brandon School Division, one lucky student will be named winner of the J & G Homes VIP Kids Coloring Contest on Friday. The Facebook Contest, which was open to all western Manitoba students, features an attractive grand prize of a $500 sponsorship towards registration fees of an extracurricular activity, a $200 gift card from Brandon Source for Sports, tickets to Friday night’s game as well as a behind the scenes game day tour and team photo.
This year’s winner will be announced during the first intermission.
Saturday’s game vs. Moose Jaw meanwhile is a presentation of The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union.
Tickets to both weekend games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at www.wheatkings.com
ABOUT J&G HOMES LTD. J & G Homes is a leader in the Manitoba construction services industry, offering quality craftsmanship across the fullest range of innovative designs and custom development in SW Manitoba, from affordable homes to prestige properties and prime commercial developments. We are committed to ensuring our customers receive the very best value and service experience, delivered with integrity and respect. Our goal is to achieve lifetime relationships with our customers, business partners, and employees in an environment that encourages new ideas, innovation and growth.
ABOUT MGEU: The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union represents 40,000 working Manitobans, making it the largest union in the province. MGEU members live and work throughout Manitoba and in a wide variety of workplaces ― roughly 16,000 are employed directly by the Province of Manitoba (referred to as Civil Service members), while others work in crown corporations, universities and colleges, health care facilities, social service agencies, and arts and cultural organizations.
