SERIES PREVIEW: Brandon Wheat Kings (6) vs. Moose Jaw Warriors (3)
The quest for the Ed Chynoweth Cup commences when the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien kick off on Thursday, March 28. The Western Hockey League will preview each of the eight First Round matchups in the leadup to puck drop.
One of the most entertaining regular-season series is carrying over to the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
Moose Jaw eked out a 4-3-0-1 record against Brandon in 2023-24, but that slate is wiped clean when the puck drops on Game One on Friday, March 29 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The Warriors surpassed 40 wins for a second straight season, finishing second in the East Division and ranking third in the Eastern Conference playoff standings. Moose Jaw was also the second deadliest road teams in the league this season, with a 21-12-0-1 record for 48 points in enemy territory.
Brandon enters the postseason ranked sixth with a 33-28-6-1 record, with the eighth-strongest home record in the WHL (21-12-0-1). The Wheat Kings look to make a splash after missing the playoffs in 2023.
Bob Clarke Trophy winner Jagger Firkus led the Warriors (and the CHL, for that matter) with a whopping 61 goals and 126 points. The Seattle Kraken prospect scored more hat tricks (six) than games where he was held off the scoresheet). The Warriors also got a boost from Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Denton Mateychuk finished third in points among defencemen (17 goals, 58 assists, 75 points) and set a new franchise record for career points by a blueliner with 215. Mateychuk also stunned with a 23-game point streak that saw him amass 35 points (six goals, 29 assists).
Brandon took a scoring by-committee approach after Captain Nate Danielson was traded to Portland in January. Washington Capitals prospect Brett Hyland, who took over as Captain, led the Wheaties with 32 goals and 27 assists for 59 points, setting new career-highs in all categories. Jayden Wiens, Roger McQueen, Rylen Roersma and Nolan Flamand also surpassed the 20-goal milestone.
The Warriors made a huge splash at the WHL Trade Deadline by acquiring Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie. The former WHL Prospects Draft first-overall pick has racked up 19 goals and 28 assists in 23 games since joining Moose Jaw. He’s one of seven NHL prospects on the Warriors, along with Firkus (SEA), Mateychuk (CBJ), Brayden Yager (PIT), Martin Rysavy (CBJ), Kalem Parker (MIN) and Vojtech Port (ANA).
The Wheat Kings feature two NHL prospects in Hyland (WAS) and goaltender Carson Bjarnason (PHI).
This will be the first time these teams have met in the postseason since Brandon snagged a 4-1 second-round win over Moose Jaw en route to the Wheat Kings’ 2016 Ed Chynoweth Cup win. Brandon also earned wins over Moose Jaw in 2005, 2003, 1997 and 1995, while Moose Jaw grabbed its lone series win over the Black and Gold in 1997.
STAT PACK
| Moose Jaw Warriors | Brandon Wheat Kings | |
| Record | 44-21-0-3 | 33-28-6-1 |
| Leading Scorers | Jagger Firkus (61G, 65A, 126PTS)
Atley Calvert (47G, 48A, 95PTS) Brayden Yager (35G, 60A, 95PTS) |
Brett Hyland (32G, 27A, 59PTS)
Rylen Roersma (20G, 38A, 58PTS) Roger McQueen (21G, 30A, 51PTS) |
| Leading Goaltender | Jackson Unger (35-15-0-2, 3.08, .908) | Carson Bjarnason (27-17-4-1, 3.01, .907) |
| Powerplay | 32.4% (1st) | 18.4% (22nd) |
| Penalty Kill | 76.4% (10th) | 76.1% (12th) |
| 2023 WHL Playoffs | Lost Second Round (Winnipeg) | Did not qualify |
| Last WHL Championship | 2018 | 2016 |
Regular Season Series: Moose Jaw leads 4-3-0-1
September 23, 2023- Brandon 9, Moose Jaw 4
September 29, 2023- Brandon 2, Moose Jaw 5
October 26, 2023- Moose Jaw 3, Brandon 4
November 9, 2023- Brandon 3, Moose Jaw 4 (OT)
December 8, 2023- Moose Jaw 4, Brandon 5 (SO)
December 16, 2023- Moose Jaw 4, Brandon 3
February 15, 2024- Brandon 2, Moose Jaw 4
March 21, 2024- Moose Jaw 3, Brandon 5
GAME BREAKERS
Moose Jaw Warriors: Jagger Firkus has been unstoppable in 2023-24, claiming the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s top scorer and clinching the CHL scoring title with 126 points. His 61 goals and 10 game-winning goals both rank second in the WHL. Firkus led all Moose Jaw skaters with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in seven matches against Brandon in the regular season, highlighted by a two-goal, one-assist performance in their final regular-season meeting- though Brandon ended up pulling out the win.
Brandon Wheat Kings: Newly-minted Captain Brett Hyland has driven the Wheat Kings’ offence ever since Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson was dished to Portland in February. Hyland has led his squad with 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points in the 30 games since the trade and also leads Brandon in powerplay goals (nine) and sits second in game-winning tallies (four). The 2023 Washington Capitals draft pick put up two goals and five assists against Moose Jaw this season, including a game-winner and a game-tying goal to force extra time.
GOALTENDING
Moose Jaw Warriors: Jackson Unger has been a workhorse in his first season as the Warriors’ starting netminder. He earned the most wins of any goalie in the league with a 35-15-0-2 record, played the second-most minutes (3,133), made the third-most saves (1,593) tied for third in shutouts (three) and ranked sixth in save percentage (.908). Unger made one relief appearance for Moose Jaw in the 2023 WHL Playoffs but fell to the Winnipeg ICE.
Brandon Wheat Kings: This series features another busy, dependable goaltender in 18-year-old Carson Bjarnason. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect, who signed his entry-level contract in September, improved his stats across the board in his second season as Brandon’s starter. Bjarnason trimmed his goals-against average to 3.01, raised his save percentage to .901 (tied seventh among all goaltenders) and earned two clean sheets. This will mark Bjarnason’s first appearance in the WHL Playoffs.
X FACTOR:
Moose Jaw Warriors: It’s hometown boy Atley Calvert’s final run at the WHL Playoffs and he’s coming in playing some of the best hockey of his career. Calvert posted a career-high 46 goals and 93 points this season, while also becoming the highest-scoring Moose Jaw-born player in franchise history. Calvert is second only to Firkus in goals scored against Brandon, with Calvert racking up six goals and an assist in eight meetings with the Wheat Kings. Calvert has also averaged nearly a point per game in two playoff runs with six goals and 12 assists in 20 postseason appearances.
Brandon Wheat Kings: A big, mobile, right-shot defenceman is always a threat, and Charlie Elick has shown he has the tools to do some damage. The top 2024 NHL Entry Draft-eligible prospect is ranked eighth among North American defencemen by NHL Central Scouting. Elick registered four assists, 18 penalty minutes and a +6 rating against Moose Jaw this season. At 6-foot-3 and 198 pounds, he may not put up the biggest numbers but is sure to punish his opponents on the boards and take away opportunities.
SERIES SCHEDULE
| Game | Date | Away | Home | Time |
| 1 | Friday, March 29 | Brandon | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
| 2 | Saturday, March 30 | Brandon | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
| 3 | Wednesday, April 3 | Moose Jaw | Brandon | 7:00 p.m. CDT |
| 4 | Thursday, April 4 | Moose Jaw | Brandon | 7:00 p.m. CDT |
| 5* | Saturday, April 6 | Brandon | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
| 6* | Sunday, April 7 | Moose Jaw | Brandon | 6:00 p.m. CDT |
| 7* | Tuesday, April 9 | Brandon | Moose Jaw | 7:00 p.m. ST |
*- If necessary
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