Brandon, Manitoba – A former Manitoba High School Hockey Champion has been chosen January’s recipient of the Brandon Wheat Kings’ Tip Top Tailors Player of the Month Award.

Brandon’s second selection (36th overall) in the 2002 Western Hockey League bantam draft, 19-year old Winnipeg product Ryan Reaves has been instrumental in the Wheat Kings climb to first place in the Eastern Division this season. During the month of January, the 6’2” 210 lb right-winger had two goals and five points in thirteen games and was a physically dominatingl force throughout the month.

Chosen by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round of the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Reaves joined the Wheat Kings in the fall of 2004 after leading St. John Ravenscourt to back to back provincial high school titles.

The son of former Winnipeg Blue Bomber All Canadian running back Willard Reaves, Ryan is currently second on the team with an impressive +14 ranking. One of only five Wheat Kings to dress for all 55 games this season, Reaves enters Saturday’s game against the visiting Calgary Hitmen with twelve goals and 29 points while accumulating 66 minutes in penalties. In addition to scoring two shorthanded goals, “Reaver” has a pair of game winners.

During his three year WHL career, Reaves has 33 goals and 72 points in 188 games.

Reaves and the Wheat Kings will be hoping to get back on the winning track when they close out their current 4-game home stand against the Hitmen. Brandon is 1-1-0-1 during the first three games and is coming off its first regulation time loss (3-1 Tuesday night vs. Saskatoon) since November 11th.

Brandon is currently 17-4-1-4 on home ice this season and 28-18-2-7 overall. The Wheat Kings lead the second place Regina Pats by ten points in the Eastern Division. The Pats, however, have compiled an 8-1-0-1 record during their last ten games and have two games in hand heading into Wednesday’s game against the Blades at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

The Wheat Kings will kick off a 4-game road trip Sunday night in Regina – an excursion that will see Brandon travel to Swift Current on Tuesday, Saskatoon on Wednesday and Moose Jaw on Friday, February 16th.

In recognition of the monthly honour, Reaves will receive a shirt, tie and suit from Tip Top Tailors in the Shoppers Mall, the official menswear clothier of the Wheat Kings during this Saturday’s game.

Tickets to Saturday’s game are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca