WHEAT KINGS-REBELS’ PLAYOFF HISTORY
Brandon, MB. – The Brandon Wheat Kings begin final preparations Wednesday for their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Final against the Red Deer Rebels.
Games one and two of the best of seven series are scheduled to be played this Friday and Saturday nights at Westman Communications Group Place.
The Wheat Kings, who rallied to beat Edmonton before disposing Moose Jaw in the Conference Semi-Finals, are in the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight year. Brandon defeated Calgary last year before losing out to the Kelowna Rockets in the Championship Final.
As Host to the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup, the Rebels earned the right to meet Brandon by defeating Calgary and Regina during the first and second rounds respectively. Red Deer beat Regina 2-1 in Tuesday night’s seventh and deciding game.
This year’s Eastern Conference Final will mark the first time in thirteen years that Brandon and Red Deer have faced one another in the WHL playoffs. It also marks the second time in four playoff series between the two that the Wheat Kings and Rebels have met in the Conference Final.
After losing to Red Deer in an epic 7-game series in 2002, the Wheat Kings dropped a five game series to the Rebels the following year.
Red Deer was led by the likes of Matt Ellison, Boyd Gordon, Dion Phaneuf and goalkeeper Cam Ward. The Wheat Kings, who defeated division rivals Regina and Moose Jaw in the opening two rounds of post season play that year featured Jordin Tootoo, Eric Fehr and captain Ryan Craig.
Meanwhile the Wheat Kings and Rebels split their first two playoff series.
While Red Deer defeated Brandon four games to one in the 1999 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, it was the Wheat Kings sweeping the Rebels in the 1996 Conference Semi-Finals. The ’96 Wheat Kings, who went on to capture their WHL Championship Trophy by defeating Spokane, were led by Mike LecLerc, Peter Schaefer, Cory Cyrenne and netminder Jody Lehman. Starring for the Rebels that year were BJ Young and Greg Schmidt.
Overall, Red Deer has won three of four playoff series against the Wheat Kings and twelve of 21 games played between the two.
While the Wheat Kings will be entering their 50th Anniversary season in the WHL next year, Red Deer is relatively young when it comes to the League having joined in 1992.
In addition to featuring two star-studded lineups, this year’s Eastern Conference Finalists are led by two of the WHL’s most successful coaches. Both Brent Sutter of Red Deer and Brandon’s Kelly McCrimmon, who own their respective clubs and serve as general manager.
Since purchasing the club, Sutter has compiled a 411-253-74 regular season record and a playoff record of 74-57.
McCrimmon meanwhile is Brandon’s alltime winningest coach with a record of 457-318-60 during the regular season as well as a 72-58 record in post season play.
During the 4-game season series between the two during the regular season, the two teams split with each winning one of two away from home. The last time Brandon played the Rebels was January 30th in Red Deer when the Wheat Kings scored a come from behind 2-1 decision.
Brandon won the Eastern Conference regular season title by compiling a 48-18-4-2 record while the Rebels finished second in the Central Division and third in the Conference at 46-24-1-2.
Following the weekend, the series will shift to Red Deer for games three and four next Tuesday and Wednesday. Should a fifth game be necessary it will be played back in Brandon on Friday, April 29th. Game six would be played Sunday, May 1st in Alberta with the seventh and deciding game scheduled for Tuesday, May 3rd.
Tickets to games one and two this weekend are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office. Western Manitoba hockey fans can also order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555.
The first 4,000 fans attending the series opener on Friday will receive a special edition #GoldRush Playoff Rally Towel, courtesy of Sunrise Credit Union, Montana’s Barbecue and Bar, Precision Toyota and The Brandon Sun.
