Triton
09-24-2005, 10:21 AM
The defending Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Champion Brandon Wheat Kings kicked off their 2005-06 regular season on a winning note Friday night, scoring a hard fought 3-1 victory over the visiting Regina Pats.
First period goals by Derek LeBlanc and captain Teegan Moore gave the Wheat Kings an early 2-0 lead and thanks to the stellar goalkeeping of 2005 WHL Rookie of the Year Tyler Plante, the Wheat Kings never looked back.
Ryan Reaves, a fifth round draft choice of the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues, scored Brandon's third goal while Matt Robiinson replied for the Pats, who trailed 2-1 at both intermissions.
Both goalkeepers stole the show as Plante turned aside 27 shots including fourteen in the opening period while Regina's David Reekie made 28 stops.
The game also marked the first regular season game for 19-year old left-winger Mark Derlago since the spring of 2004. The nephew of former Wheat Kings' scoring star Bill Derlago missed all of last season after breaking his neck during the club's final pre-season game in September.
Referee Pat Smith assessed a total of ninety minutes in penalties - including three fighting majors to both clubs. Defenceman Theran Yeo was involved in two altercations - the first with Pats' overage left-winger Jordan McGillivray and the second with Regina defenceman Derek Reinhart.
The two teams will face off against one another Saturday night in Regina to complete this year's season opening home and home weekend series.
First period goals by Derek LeBlanc and captain Teegan Moore gave the Wheat Kings an early 2-0 lead and thanks to the stellar goalkeeping of 2005 WHL Rookie of the Year Tyler Plante, the Wheat Kings never looked back.
Ryan Reaves, a fifth round draft choice of the National Hockey League's St. Louis Blues, scored Brandon's third goal while Matt Robiinson replied for the Pats, who trailed 2-1 at both intermissions.
Both goalkeepers stole the show as Plante turned aside 27 shots including fourteen in the opening period while Regina's David Reekie made 28 stops.
The game also marked the first regular season game for 19-year old left-winger Mark Derlago since the spring of 2004. The nephew of former Wheat Kings' scoring star Bill Derlago missed all of last season after breaking his neck during the club's final pre-season game in September.
Referee Pat Smith assessed a total of ninety minutes in penalties - including three fighting majors to both clubs. Defenceman Theran Yeo was involved in two altercations - the first with Pats' overage left-winger Jordan McGillivray and the second with Regina defenceman Derek Reinhart.
The two teams will face off against one another Saturday night in Regina to complete this year's season opening home and home weekend series.