Wheat Kings Drop Back-and-Forth OT Thriller With Regina
Anyone who likes high-scoring hockey went home happy from the Brandon Wheat Kings home opener on Friday, September 22. Unfortunately for the Wheat Kings, the last goal of the scoring-fest went to the Regina Pats.
Braxton Whitehead scored 52 seconds into overtime and the Pats won 7-6 over the Wheat Kings in the first game of the WHL season. Six different Wheat Kings scored, while Nicholas Jones made 30 saves.
“It wasn’t pretty in a lot of regards,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “When you score six, you should win the game. We didn’t defend well at all, and our offense went a little dry there, with the shots on goal we needed to get more pucks on net down the stretch. Disappointing to come out with an overtime loss.”
It didn’t look like the Wheat Kings would come out with a loss, overtime or otherwise, after the opening ten minutes. They roared out of the gate with three goals in that span, starting with Caleb Hadland batting home a power play goal. Then, Rylen Roersma knocked home a rebound of Roger McQueen’s shot to make it 2-0. McQueen got in on the act himself, set up by Dominik Petr to go up 3-0.
But the Pats resurgence came soon after. Matteo Michels one-timed home a goal at even strength, then Parker Berge snapped home a one-timer as well. On a power play in the second period, not long after the Wheat Kings hit a post, the Pats tied the score with Michels striking shorthanded after a turnover in front of the net.
The Wheat Kings got some momentum back on their next power play, with Petr sniping home his first WHL goal from the top of the right circle. But the Pats took the momentum first, with an end to end goal by Layton Feist, and then the lead with a power play tally by Tye Spencer.
The lead was never really safe for anyone in this one, however. Luke Shipley tied the score with a seeing eye shot from the point early in the third. Then, breaking in 2-on-1, Hayden Wheddon managed to sneak one through Ewan Huet for his first WHL goal.
Another first goal tied the score again, this one from Cole Temple, who scored in his hometown. Despite a late power play by Regina, the game went to overtime.
The extra frame, however, lasted less than a minute. After the Pats worked a cycle, Tanner Howe fed Whitehead for what proved to be the game winner.
The Wheat Kings are right back to work tomorrow in Moose Jaw for their first road game of the year. Puck drop is 8:00 Manitoba time.
