WHEAT KINGS’ ROOKIE CAMP CONCLUDES
Brandon, MB. — Two days down and three days to go as the 2012 Brandon Wheat Kings Rookie Camp came to a close on Thursday night at Westman Communications Group Place.
Friday morning Main Camp begins and will feature a number of the Western Hockey League club’s top prospects, three key newcomers and all returning veterans.
In the final two Rookie Camp scrimmages Thursday, Team Black scored a come from behind 6-5 Overtime Shootout win over Team White and it was Team Gold scoring four unanswered goals to beat the Blues 5-3.
Goals by Taylor Cooper and Nick Mathews in the final ten minutes snapped a 3-3 tie and gave Team Gold the win. Cooper finished the game with a goal and three points to pace the winners while Tim McGauley set up two goals in a losing cause for Team Blue.
In the opening game, the Blacks came back from a 3-1 deficit to take a 5-4 lead with seven minutes remaining in regulation time – only to see Team White even things up two minutes later.
In the Shootout, the Black team scored on all three shots by Kord Pankewicz, Neepawa’s Quintin Lisoway and Dakota Boutin.
In addition to the Shootout goal, Pankewicz, who was Brandon’s first selection in last year’s WHL Bantam Draft, picked up three assists during regulation time.
Drafted as a defenceman, Pankewicz spent all of last year playing centre with the Telus Cup host Leduc Oil Kings. The 16-year old is expected to see most of his action this season up front but spent Rookie Camp lining up on the blueline.
“I want to push as hard as I can and, hopefully, earn a spot,” Pankewicz told CKLQ’s Bruce Luebke. “I think my strength is good enough but I should have worked a little more on my speed. That’s a little lacking right now but once I get my feet moving, it should be good. It’s a little different back-pedaling because I haven’t done that for a year…it’s a little bit harder.”
Following Thursday’s final scrimmage, a number of the prospects were given invitations to the hockey club’s Main Camp.
Over sixty players, including sixteen WHL veterans are expected to attend the camp that will conclude Sunday afternoon with the annual Intrasquad game at 2pm.
Among the veterans will be newly acquired Tyler Yaworski and Nick Buonassisi, who were recently obtained in deals with Prince Albert and Lethbridge respectively. Another player that will be making his Wheat Kings’ Camp debut will be right-winger Richard Nejezchleb of the Czech Republic. He was the Wheat Kings’ first round pick in this summer’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
Friday’s Main Camp Schedule:
8am Team White Practice
10:30am Team Black vs. Team Gold
5pm Team Black Practice
6:30pm Team White vs. Team Gold
Brandon kicks off its pre-season schedule Thursday night in Regina, with the Pats returning to Brandon to meet the Wheat Kings the following night. Tickets to both of Brandon’s pre-season games as well as the 2012 Home Opener on Friday, September 21st will go on sale at 9am Tuesday, September 4th at the Keystone Centre box office.
