WHEATIES TO KICK OFF BUSY WEEKEND
Brandon, Manitoba — The Brandon Wheat Kings will be hoping to continue their home ice winning ways Friday night when they kick off a three game in three night Western Hockey League weekend against the visiting Regina Pats at the Keystone Centre.
rWinners of three of their first four home games, the Wheat Kings will be playing the Pats for the first time since meeting Regina in a pre-season home and home series.
rBrandon enters the weekend, which continues Saturday night in Saskatoon before closing out Sunday night in Prince Albert, with a record of 4-4-0 while Regina is tied with the Wheat Kings for third place in the WHL’s Eastern Division with a record of 4 wins and 3 losses. Both teams trail the front running Swift Current Broncos by two points and the second place Raiders by one.
rAfter winning two of three games, including a come from behind 6-5 victory in Lethbridge during the Thanksgiving long weekend, the Wheat Kings will be hoping to spend less time in the penalty box this weekend. Through the first eight games of the regular season, Brandon has been penalized 82 times (10.25 per game), which is second most among the league’s 21 teams. Only the expansion Chilliwack Bruins (10.38 per game) have spent more time in the penalty box. Lethbridge meanwhile has been shorthanded 102 times during its first ten games (10.2 per game). Entering weekend play, the Wheat Kings have surrendered 17 powerplay goals including five when the team is skating two men short. Brandon’s penalty killing is currently 18th in the league at 79.3%.
rWhile being forced to kill off 82 penalties during the first three weeks of regular season play, the Wheat Kings have enjoyed the man advantage 56 times, which translates to seven per game. Only Prince Albert, Portland and Spokane have had fewer powerplay opportunities.
rThe Wheat Kings have certainly made the most of their opportunities, however, as they continue to lead the Western League, clicking at a 30.4% clip. Brandon has scored 17 powerplay goals in 56 opportunities. Mark Derlago and Codey Burki lead the club with four powerplay goals each with rookie right-winger Juraj Simek is next with three. Dustin Kohn and Andrew Clark have two each.
rSimek and Burki lead the club in scoring entering weekend play. Both have six goals and 12 points. Derlago and Kohn are next with nine points each. Netminder Tyler Plante, who recently moved past Rick Knickle and Ron Hextall and into seventh place on the club’s all time list for minutes played by a goalkeeper, has appeared in seven of Brandon’s first 8 games, compiling a 4-3-0 record, a 3.17 goals against average and a sparkling .912 save percentage.
rIn games against the Pats last season, Brandon was 5-4-0. Burki led the Wheat Kings in scoring with three goals and 7 points during the 9-game season series while Plante posted a 2.34 goals against mark.
rCaptain Teegan Moore and second year defenceman Chad Erb are not expected to return to the lineup this weekend. Both are out with shoulder injuries.
rThe Wheat Kings, in conjunction with Convergys, have also announced that ten multi-medal winners from July’s National Special Olympic Summer Games will be recognized before the start of the second period of Friday’s game.
rTickets to Friday’s game against Regina are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca
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