Brandon Wheat Kings News For The Week Of Nov.18 — Nov.24
The Brandon Wheat Kings will practice Monday afternoon at Westman Communications Group, before hitting the road for a 4-game Western Hockey League road trip that will see them play in Swift Current, Medicine Hat and Cranbrook, B.C.
Winners of three straight and four of their last six games, the Wheat Kings are coming off a home and home series sweep of the Saskatoon Blades. Brandon followed up last Wednesday’s 5-2 win in Saskatoon with a dominating performance at Westman Place on Friday. Tim McGauley scored twice as the Wheat Kings outshot the Blades 50-19 en route to a 6-2 win.
Brandon leaves this week with a record of 12-11-0 and have climbed above the .500 mark for the first time since the club’s west coast road trip in October.
Monday afternoon’s practice will feature the Brandon debut of newly acquired defenceman Ryan Pilon. The highly touted 17-year old blueliner was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday in exchange for veterans Nick Walters and Taylor Cooper as well as 16-year old prospect Tanner Browne.
Pilon, who won’t be eligible for the National Hockey League draft until 2015, has three goals and seven points in 17 games with the ‘Canes this season. A former third overall bantam draft pick, Pilon has scored eight goals and 35 points in 76 career WHL games.
Pilon joins a blueline corps that includes overager Rene Hunter, 19-year olds Eric Roy and Ryan Pulock, 18-year olds Taylor Green and Colton Waltz and 17-year old Kord Pankewicz.
THIS WEEK’S PRACTICE TIMES:
Monday, November 18th at 1:45pm @ Westman Place
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, November 19th at Swift Current
Wednesday, November 20th at Medicine Hat
Friday, November 22nd at Kootenay Ice
Saturday, November 23rd at Kootenay Ice
This weekend’s twin bill in Cranbrook against the Ice will be Brandon’s second doubleheader weekend road trip of the season. Brandon played in Prince Albert in late September, following a season opening series with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The Wheat Kings will host Prince Albert for back to back home games this January; the Kootenay Ice meanwhile will back a 2-game weekend series in Brandon in February.
NEXT HOME GAME:
Saturday, November 30th vs. Prince Albert Raiders @ 7:30pm (Operation Red Nose Night)
For tickets call 726-3555 or visit www.wheatkings.com
(Atom Jet will be presenting its Performer of the Month Award for November at this game)
2013 SCOTIABANK SKILLS DAY:
The skills competition, which will be hosted by Top Shot Hockey from Toronto will include a number of events including Breakaway, Relay, Accuracy and Hardest Shot and will feature all of the Wheat Kings’ current players.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday, December 1st at Westman Communications Group Place and has been made possible through the generous support of Brandon’s two Scotiabank branches.
“Scotiabank is proud to partner with the Wheat Kings and bring this terrific event to the city,” says local Scotiabank Branch Manager Brian Boes. “We look forward to an exciting day for the fans. If it’s anything like last year’s event, western Manitoba hockey fans are in for a real treat!”
Tickets to this year’s Skills Day are on sale for just $2 and can be purchased at the Wheat Kings office, BDO Fan Services during November home games as well as Brandon’s two Scotiabank locations.
In addition to selling general admission tickets, over six hundred Hockey Brandon players will receive a complimentary ticket for this year’s event. As well, all 2013-14 Wheat Kings’ Season Ticket holders received tickets for it.
All ticket sales proceeds will be donated to Hockey Brandon programs.
NEXT WEEK’S PLAYER APPEARANCES:
Tuesday, Nov. 26th – CIBC Read to Succeed visit to Alexander School
Tuesday, Nov. 26th – MPI / Brandon Sun School Patrol Luncheon (Meadows School)
Wednesday, Nov. 27th – Annual Movember Tip a Wheat King Night @ Applebees Restaurant
Thursday, Nov. 28th – CIBC Read to Succeed visit to Christian Heritage School
WHEAT KINGS TO ATTEND U17 CHALLENGE CUP:
Two members of the Wheat Kings will represent Brandon at this year’s World U17 Challenge Cup in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Over the course of the past week, Jesse Gabrielle was selected to Team Western while Braylon Shmyr was one of 22 players chosen to Team Pacific. As well, Wheat Kings goaltending coach Brent Zelenewich will be among the coaches on Team West.
BRANDON BITS:
In addition to this week’s 4-game road trip, the Wheat Kings will wind up playing five straight games on the road before returning to the friendly confines of Westman Place…Brandon has won three straight games away from home…Brandon’s powerplay is 11-30 over the course of its last seven games…The line of Tim McGauley, Jayce Hawryluk and Richard Nejezchleb have combined for 28 points in the last six games…Wheat Kings are currently among the league leaders in Movember earnings, with less than two weeks remaining in this year’s national campaign to promote men’s health.
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