Triton
03-16-2006, 10:40 AM
Brandon, Manitoba -- The Brandon Wheat Kings bring the curtain down on their 2005-2006 Western Hockey League regular season this weekend when they play host to the Regina Pats on Friday, before travelling to Moose Jaw to face off against the Warriors on Saturday.
Entering the final weekend of regular season play, captain Teegan Moore and the Wheat Kings are riding a season high four-game winning streak. The Pats meanwhile have won six in a row while the Warriors have clinched their second WHL Eastern Division pennant in the past three years.
Moose Jaw will be Brandon's opening round playoff opponent and Moore likes the thoughts of opening up the post-season this year as the underdogs.
"We've been underdogs all year, and I think going into the playoffs, if we can carry some of that momentum (from) knowing that we can beat Moose Jaw, it's sort of a good thing for our team," the 19-year old Thompson, Manitoba product told reporter Sara Cumming this week.
The best of seven opening round series will begin next weekend with games on Friday, March 24th and Saturday, March 25th in Moose Jaw. The Wheat Kings will host games three and four on Monday, March 27th and Thursday, March 30th at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, due to a scheduling conflict with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Tickets to those two playoff games will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, March 20th at the MTS Centre box office.
As for this weekend, Friday's game will be the ninth and final meeting of the season between Brandon and Regina. The Wheat Kings enter Friday's game with a record of 29-31-6-4 and the defending Eastern Conference Champions are 5-1-1 during the month of March.
Moore takes a 4-game point scoring streak into the weekend while veterans Codey Burki and Daryl Boyle as well as rookie Tyler Dittmer have scored at least a point in three of their last four games. Ex-Kamloops Blazer Bryan Kauk meanwhile has two goals and 9 points in his last nine games, since replacing the injured Sami Sandell.
Sandell is one of two Wheat Kings not expected to dress this weekend. The other is Corey Courchene, who broke his leg during last Saturday's win over Saskatoon and will be lost for the balance of the season. Sandell hopes to rejoin the club in time for the start of post-season play.
Entering the final weekend of regular season play, captain Teegan Moore and the Wheat Kings are riding a season high four-game winning streak. The Pats meanwhile have won six in a row while the Warriors have clinched their second WHL Eastern Division pennant in the past three years.
Moose Jaw will be Brandon's opening round playoff opponent and Moore likes the thoughts of opening up the post-season this year as the underdogs.
"We've been underdogs all year, and I think going into the playoffs, if we can carry some of that momentum (from) knowing that we can beat Moose Jaw, it's sort of a good thing for our team," the 19-year old Thompson, Manitoba product told reporter Sara Cumming this week.
The best of seven opening round series will begin next weekend with games on Friday, March 24th and Saturday, March 25th in Moose Jaw. The Wheat Kings will host games three and four on Monday, March 27th and Thursday, March 30th at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, due to a scheduling conflict with the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Tickets to those two playoff games will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, March 20th at the MTS Centre box office.
As for this weekend, Friday's game will be the ninth and final meeting of the season between Brandon and Regina. The Wheat Kings enter Friday's game with a record of 29-31-6-4 and the defending Eastern Conference Champions are 5-1-1 during the month of March.
Moore takes a 4-game point scoring streak into the weekend while veterans Codey Burki and Daryl Boyle as well as rookie Tyler Dittmer have scored at least a point in three of their last four games. Ex-Kamloops Blazer Bryan Kauk meanwhile has two goals and 9 points in his last nine games, since replacing the injured Sami Sandell.
Sandell is one of two Wheat Kings not expected to dress this weekend. The other is Corey Courchene, who broke his leg during last Saturday's win over Saskatoon and will be lost for the balance of the season. Sandell hopes to rejoin the club in time for the start of post-season play.