ICE TO HOST THE WHEAT KINGS
Cranbook, B.C. — The Brandon Wheat Kings 3-game Central Division tour takes them to Cranbrook, B.C. Tuesday night for a game against the defending Western Hockey League Champion Kootenay Ice.
With less than a month remaining in the 2011-12 regular season, the Wheat Kings find themselves five points behind the seventh place Regina Pats and four ahead of the ninth place Red Deer Rebels as all three teams battle for the final two playoff berths in the Eastern Conference.
Brandon kicked off the trip with a disappointing 4-2 loss in Medicine Hat on Sunday, snapping a 3-game win streak for the Wheat Kings, who close out this excursion on Wednesday night against the Hurricanes in Lethbridge.
Tuesday’s game will be the third of four meetings between these two teams this season, with each club splitting the first two games. After losing 7-3 in Brandon back on January 21st, the Wheat Kings bounced back three days later to blank the Ice 1-0 in Cranbrook.
Brandon and Kootenay will conclude this year’s season series one week from tonight at Westman Communications Group Place.
While the Wheat Kings continue to play for their playoff lives, the Ice sit third in the Central and fourth in the Conference with a record of 31-17-4-4. At home, Kootenay sports an impressive 17-8-1-2 mark and are led by the Reinharts – Max and Sam – with 60 and 52 points respectively. Sam is currently the third highest scoring rookie in the league, behind only Tim Bozon of Kamloops and Vancouver’s Marek Tvrdon. In goal, Nathan Lieuwen leads the league in goals against (2.24) and is among the WHL leaders in appearances (44), minutes played (2567), save percentage (.923) and shutouts (3).
Another key to Kootenay’s success has been the play of their special teams. The Ice powerplay is currently 7th in the league at 22.7% while its penalty killing is ranked fourth at 81.5% efficient. As for the Wheat Kings, while Brandon’s powerplay has been among the league leaders all year, its penalty killing is ranked 20th at 74%.
Wheat Kings’ captain Mark Stone enters the game tied with Regina’s Jordan Weal for the league scoring lead with 90 points, including 36 goals. The 19-year old Winnipeg product is also riding an 8-game point scoring streak and has five goals and 15 points during that stretch of games.
Once this week’s trip is complete, Brandon will return home to face the Prince Albert Raiders in a weekend doubleheader, beginning Friday night. Friday night is Giant Tiger Player Card Giveaway Night, with the first 2,000 fans in attendance to receive a full set of 2011-12 Wheat Kings’ Player Cards.
Tickets to Friday’s game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca
