Jory give W'kings a boost

Monday, February 19, 2007


Regina, Saskatchewan -- Veteran netminder Kurt Jory did his former Brandon teammates a huge favour Sunday night, backstopping the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 3-0 victory over the second place Pats in Regina.

With the loss, Regina's third in three games this past weekend, the Pats remain thirteen points back of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Division Brandon Wheat Kings - with one game in hand.

After playing both ends of a weekend home and home series against the Wheat Kings on Friday and Saturday nights, Jory was sensational on Sunday, turning aside 35 shots for the shutout. As a member of the Wheat Kings earlier this season, the Brandon product teamed up with Tyler Plante to blank the Red Deer Rebels on September 29th.

Jordan Knackstedt, Ryley Grantham and Matt Isbister scored for the Warriors Sunday night, who remain sixth in the East Division with a record of 22-34-3-0.

The Pats meanwhile are 28-27-1-4 after weekend loss to Moose Jaw, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.

After collecting three of a possible 4 points during this weekend's 2-game series with the Warriors, the Wheat Kings sit atop the division with a record of 32-19-2-8, good for 74 points and third place in the Eastern Conference - three points ahead of the fourth place Calgary Hitmen. Saturday's 4-2 win over Moose Jaw officially clinched a playoff berth for the Wheat Kings, marking the fourteenth time in the past 15 years that Brandon will be moving on to the WHL playoff party.

Brandon expects to open up its best of 7 opening round playoff series with games one and two on Friday and Saturday, March 23rd and 24th. Should the Wheat Kings win this year's pennant, it would also mark the fourth time in the past six years that Brandon has finished on top of the division.

Speaking of the playoffs, Wheat Kings' Season ticket holders are reminded that the deadline to reserve your 12-game playoff package is this Saturday, February 24th at 10 p.m., following Brandon's game against the Pats at the Keystone Centre. For more information, call 726-3535.

On the ice, the Wheat Kings host the 2nd Annual Rogers Fan Camp at the Keystone Centre Monday night, before continuing their current 5-game home stand on Wednesday night against Ryan Russell and the Kootenay Ice. Game time is 7 p.m. and tickets are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca

www.wheatkings.com