WHEAT KINGS EDGE TIGERS
Brandon, MB. — Stellar goaltending and a dramatic overtime shootout goal by Braylon Shmyr lifted the Brandon Wheat Kings to an exciting 3-2 win over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday night.
The win – Brandon’s second against the Tigers in less than two weeks – featured another goaltending clinic by veteran Jordan Papirny. The former first round bantam draft choice turned aside 42 shots during regulation and overtime and then stopped another eight in the shootout as the Wheat Kings moved five points up on the Tigers atop the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference.
After trading goals in the first period, Papirny and his Medicine Hat counterpart Marek Langhamer shut the door in the second as the two combined to stop twenty shots.
After falling behind early in the third on a Blake Penner redirection past Papirny, the Wheat Kings tied things up midway through the period when Reid Duke scored his sixth of the season.
In overtime, Brandon outshot the Tigers 6-2 but Langhamer was equal to the test, forcing the two teams to an 8-round shootout that featured just one goal on sixteen shots.
That game winning goal came off the stick of Shmyr, who began the night with four goals and 7 points in nineteen games.
The win was the Wheat Kings seventh in their last eight games and was the final of a 4-game home stand that saw Brandon go 3-1-0 to improve to 17-4-1 overall.
Brandon’s Colton Waltz and Steven Owre of the Tigers rounded out the scoring in the game, which marked the first ever WHL meeting of the Quenneville brothers – Peter and John of the Wheat Kings and Medicine Hat’s David.
The game also featured a Salute to CFB Shilo and saw the Wheat Kings donning special military theme jerseys. The jerseys were auctioned off during the game, with a total of $15,901 being raised for the United Way of Brandon and District Community Fund.
While nineteen jerseys were available for bids on Saturday, two others – John Quenneville and Quintin Lisoway – had theirs auctioned off on radio earlier this month. Another one meanwhile will be won in late November following a month long raffle. For more information on how to purchase a $5 ticket for a chance to win Logan Thompson’s game jersey fans can call (204) 571-8929.
Following a quick trip to Swift Current for a game against the Broncos on Wednesday, the Wheat Kings return home to host the defending Memorial Cup Champion Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tickets to both weekend games will go on sale first thing Monday morning at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MILANA PADDOCK
