Brandon Wheat Kings to battle for WHL crown in 2025 Playoffs

The Brandon Wheat Kings want their crown.

Brandon has clinched a berth in the 2025 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien by nature of a Red Deer Rebels loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday night.

The Wheat Kings have scored by committee in 2024-25 while ranking in the top 10 in goals for and fewest goals against.

Veteran Marcus Nguyen has led the charge with his first 30-goal season while hitting 100 career goals and 200 career points.

Centreman Nolan Flamand is the first Wheat King to surpass 60 points on the season, while 16-year-old Jaxon Jacobson has been named WHL Rookie of the Week twice this season after averaging nearly a point per game.

Brandon boasts one of the top 2025 NHL Draft prospects in 6-foot-5, 193-pound centreman Roger McQueen, who erupted for four goals on the opening night of the season.

Though McQueen missed much of the season due to injury, he made his return to the ice in early March and is expected to play a key role in the postseason.

Captain Quinn Mantei was named Tempo WHL Player of the Week in late January after leading all WHL defencemen with a goal and seven assists over three games.

Between the pipes, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Carson Bjarnason and sophomore Ethan Eskit have formed one of the league’s strongest goaltending tandems, with both players earning WHL Goaltender of the Week honours once so far this campaign.

Bjarnason sits second mong all WHL goaltenders in save percentage (.912) and recorded his 70th career win and 150th career game earlier this season.

The Wheat Kings have been trending up in the second half of the season, particularly after an impressive run that saw them go 8-0-1-1 from January 29 to February 18.

This marks the second straight season that Brandon has qualified for the WHL Playoffs.

The league’s most easterly team has been crowned WHL Champions three times in their storied history, most recently in 2016, when they were led by 2017 second-overall NHL Draft pick Nolan Patrick, who potted 30 points (13G-17A) in 21 games, and 2016 WHL Defenceman of the Year Ivan Provorov, who is currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

While a playoff berth is locked in, Brandon’s regular season work isn’t done yet.

The Wheat Kings are in a tight race for first place in the East Division, and all-important home-ice advantage in the first round.

Brandon closes out its regular season on the road against the Regina Pats on Saturday, March 22. The 2025 WHL Playoffs will kick off the following Friday.