sbtatter
02-25-2009, 08:36 AM
Lots of interest here in B-town to see the team that knocked us out last season, here's a little blurb from our website
Brandon Wheat Kings Insider
WHEATIES SET TO TAKE ON 'CANES
Brandon, Manitoba -- In what could be a first round Western Hockey League playoff preview, the Brandon Wheat Kings will play host to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday night at Westman Communications Group Place.
While the Wheat Kings enter the game riding a 4-game winning streak and winners of nine of their last ten, the Hurricanes will be hoping to snap a 2-game losing skid.
Brandon is 42-16-3-1 entering Wednesday's game, trailing the front running Saskatoon Blades by four points in the WHL's Eastern Division. The Blades take on Moose Jaw Wednesday, before travelling to Brandon for a pivotal 2-game weekend series beginning Friday night.
The Hurricanes meanwhile are 30-27-3-2, good for 65 points and seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Lethbridge trails Kootenay by one point enterting the week.
This year marks the third straight year that the Wheat Kings have reached the 40-win plateau and the fifth time in the past seven seasons. Since joining the WCHL in 1967, Brandon has won forty or more games on sixteen occasions, including twelve since 1992-93.
“Tonight is a huge game for us, that's another potential playoff team we could face,” Wheat Kings' veteran Matt Calvert told Tyler Crayston of CKX Television recently. “It's going to be a big game for us and a good confidence booster if we can get the win.”
One of the hottest Wheat Kings of late, Calvert has managed to score at least a point in nine of his last 10 games. Entering Wednesday, the former AAA Midget Wheat King has twenty-three goals and 57 points in 48 games. He is one of six Wheat Kings currently averaging at least a point per game this season.
Leading the way is 17-year old center Brayden Schenn with 28 goals and 78 points in sixty games, followed by Jay Fehr (27-47-74) and Andrew Clark (36-35-71).
The Hurricanes roster includes center Zach Boychuk, a first round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, newly acquired forward Kyle Beach and veteran blueliner Luca Sbisa, who was returned to Lethbridge earlier this month by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Colton Sceviour currently leads the 'Canes in scoring with 69 points, including 24 goals in 59 games.
“Certainly we've had a good run for an extended period of time and we want to keep that momentum and keep getting better,” says Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “We want to be playing well heading into the playoffs.”
Wednesday night is another “Whopper Wednesday“ at Westman Place, with the first 2,500 fans in attendance to receive a free Whopper from Brandon's Burger King Restaurant.
Tickets to Wednesday's game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order by phone at 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca
Brandon Wheat Kings Insider
WHEATIES SET TO TAKE ON 'CANES
Brandon, Manitoba -- In what could be a first round Western Hockey League playoff preview, the Brandon Wheat Kings will play host to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday night at Westman Communications Group Place.
While the Wheat Kings enter the game riding a 4-game winning streak and winners of nine of their last ten, the Hurricanes will be hoping to snap a 2-game losing skid.
Brandon is 42-16-3-1 entering Wednesday's game, trailing the front running Saskatoon Blades by four points in the WHL's Eastern Division. The Blades take on Moose Jaw Wednesday, before travelling to Brandon for a pivotal 2-game weekend series beginning Friday night.
The Hurricanes meanwhile are 30-27-3-2, good for 65 points and seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Lethbridge trails Kootenay by one point enterting the week.
This year marks the third straight year that the Wheat Kings have reached the 40-win plateau and the fifth time in the past seven seasons. Since joining the WCHL in 1967, Brandon has won forty or more games on sixteen occasions, including twelve since 1992-93.
“Tonight is a huge game for us, that's another potential playoff team we could face,” Wheat Kings' veteran Matt Calvert told Tyler Crayston of CKX Television recently. “It's going to be a big game for us and a good confidence booster if we can get the win.”
One of the hottest Wheat Kings of late, Calvert has managed to score at least a point in nine of his last 10 games. Entering Wednesday, the former AAA Midget Wheat King has twenty-three goals and 57 points in 48 games. He is one of six Wheat Kings currently averaging at least a point per game this season.
Leading the way is 17-year old center Brayden Schenn with 28 goals and 78 points in sixty games, followed by Jay Fehr (27-47-74) and Andrew Clark (36-35-71).
The Hurricanes roster includes center Zach Boychuk, a first round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, newly acquired forward Kyle Beach and veteran blueliner Luca Sbisa, who was returned to Lethbridge earlier this month by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Colton Sceviour currently leads the 'Canes in scoring with 69 points, including 24 goals in 59 games.
“Certainly we've had a good run for an extended period of time and we want to keep that momentum and keep getting better,” says Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “We want to be playing well heading into the playoffs.”
Wednesday night is another “Whopper Wednesday“ at Westman Place, with the first 2,500 fans in attendance to receive a free Whopper from Brandon's Burger King Restaurant.
Tickets to Wednesday's game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order by phone at 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca