Wheat Kings Look to Scare Away the Raiders
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Wheat Kings Regular Season Record: 5-6-0-0 Home: 2-2-0-0 Road: 3-4-0-0
Head Coach: Don MacGillivray | 77 WHL games coached (PA, BWK) | All-Time Record: 35-36-6-0
Tonight’s Matchup: The Brandon Wheat Kings wrap up a weekend home and home tonight vs the Prince Albert Raiders. Brandon has won both games vs P.A this season, by a combined score of 10-6.
Last Time Out: 5-4 SOW @ Prince Albert: The Wheat Kings snapped a three-game losing skid on Friday night, battling out a 5-4 shootout win. Tyson Zimmer (1G-1A) notched the game winner while Brett Hyland (1G-2A) and Nolan Ritchie (1G-1A) each recorded multi-point nights. Ethan Kruger made his first start since October 9th and kicked aside 33 shots in 65 minutes and then two of three shooters in the shootout.
TOP 5 WHEAT KINGS SCORERS
Nolan Ritchie – 6G – 5A – 11 Points
Ridly Greig – 5G – 5A – 10 Points
Rylen Roersma – 4G – 4A – 8 Points
Nate Danielson – 1G – 6A – 7 Points
Vincent Iorio – 0G – 7A – 7 Points
STATS LEADERS:
Goals (6) – Nolan Ritchie | Assists (7) – Vinny Iorio
Points (11) – Nolan Ritchie | PIMS (22) – Ridly Greig
Plus/Minus (5) – Chad Nychuk | Shots (40) – Nolan Ritchie
Wins (3) – Carson Bjarnason | Shutouts (0) – None
Save % (.869) – Carson Bjarnason | Goals Against Average (4.82) – Carson Bjarnason
NEWS & NOTES:
Back in the Saddle: After a series of fluke injuries, Ethan Kruger made his return to the Brandon goal on Friday night for the first time in 20 days. The Sherwood Park, AB native had been dealing with a leg injury and an infection of the eye that kept him out of the lineup. Kruger quickly jumped from the foxhole into the first, kicking aside 33 shots through 65 minutes and stopping two of three Raiders shooters in the shootout. Kruger has now stopped 13 of 19 shooters he’s faced in WHL shootouts.
Old Hat: Zakhar Polshakov has only appeared in two WHL games, but has scored in each of them. The Belarussian import scored his second of the season last night vs fellow countryman Tikhorn Chaika but fell awkwardly into the end boards shortly after, ending his night early. There are three members of the Belarussian national team on the roster sheet tonight, Polshakov, Chaika and Vladislav Shilo.
MASH 4077: The Wheat Kings have lost 46 man-games due to injury, suspension, visa issues or elongated NHL stays (Greig) through the first 11 games of the season. As a result, GM Doug Gasper has recalled Evan Groening from the Virden Oil Capitals, the Niverville, MB native has 6 points in 13 games in the MJHL this season.
