WHEAT KINGS HOST BRONCOS TUESDAY
Brandon, MB. – Its “2 for Tuesday” tonight at Westman Communications Group Place when the Brandon Wheat Kings host the visiting Swift Current Broncos in their second to last home game of the 2016-17 Western Hockey League season.
The Wheat Kings, who clinched a playoff berth Saturday night with a 5-3 win over the Prince Albert Raiders, continue to battle for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
With four games remaining – two at home and two away – the Wheat Kings occupy the first wild card spot with 70 points, thanks to a 30-28-7-3 record.
The Red Deer Rebels are currently two points behind while Calgary is four back. The Hitmen currently hold down the eighth and final playoff spot, sitting three points up on ninth place Saskatoon. Both Calgary and the Blades enter the final week of regular season play with three games left to play.
Should Brandon manage to hold down the first wild card spot, the Wheat Kings will most likely face the Central Division leading Medicine Hat Tigers in round one. The Tigers currently trail the Eastern Conference leading Regina Pats by five points, with three games to play. If Brandon was to slip this final week and finish as the eighth seed in the conference, the Wheat Kings will go up against the Pats.
No matter who they play, the Wheat Kings will open up the 2017 WHL playoffs with back to back road games next weekend. Games three and four would be played in Dauphin as the Wheat Kings will be forced from the Keystone Centre due to the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.
Details about Dauphin – both dates and tickets – to be finalized in the next two days.
Tonight’s opponent – the Broncos – enter the final week of regular season play with a record of 37-21-4-6. Swift Current, who will be without former Brandon netminder Jordan Papirny tonight, sit fifth in the conference and will face off against the Moose Jaw Warriors in their best of seven opening round series.
Papirny, who became the Wheat Kings’ all time wins leader before being traded to Swift Current at January’s deadline, didn’t make the trip with his new club this week as he remains in Saskatchewan battling the flu bug.
“My time in Brandon was unbelievable,” he recently told Perry Bergson of the Brandon Sun. “From my billets from day one and the fans and the teammates and the friendships I made, the coaching staff, everything, it just made my experience with the Wheat Kings unbelievable and something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
The Edmonton product backstopped the Wheat Kings to a Western Hockey League title last May during a career that saw him set franchise records for games played (188), minutes played (10,967) and wins (111). He is tied with his former goaltending coach, Tyler Plante, for the lead in shutouts with 12.
“He was a leader in the dressing room, he’s a quality person, he competes hard on the ice and is a real good guy off the ice,” Brandon coach David Anning says about the goalie, affectionately referred to as ‘Paps. “He was well-liked by management, staff, players.”
Not only is tonight “2 for Tuesday”, the Wheat Kings and Brandon Sun will be unveiling the WHL club’s All Time 1st line, first defence pairing and starting goalkeeper. So far, fourteen players have been chosen to the Wheat Kings’ All Time team.
In addition, the hockey club has announced that a Moment of Silence will be observed before the game for longtime public address announcer and Vincent Massey Principal Mike Adamski, who passed away this past weekend.
Meanwhile another local principal – George Fitton’s Gail McDonald – will be recognized during the first intermission as the Atom Jet Group Community Hero of the Month. She was one of 40 principals chosen from across Canada, nominated by parents, colleagues and community members and chosen by a national selection committee.
Tickets to the game – presented by The Green Spot Home and Garden – are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling (204) 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com
Fans purchasing a ticket tonight will receive a second one (of equal or lesser value) “free” of charge. As well, the Keystone Centre will be offering a number of concession specials for tonight’s game.
ABOUT THE GREEN SPOT HOME AND GARDEN: We’re an inspirational, family owned, garden center located at 1329 Rosser Avenue East in Brandon. The Green Spot is Westman’s largest destination shopping center for all of your gardening needs, landscaping services, women’s fashion and home and patio décor – a place where pleasure meets gardening