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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Brandon Trio Ready for Russian Showdown


Colby Robak, Scott Glennie and Brayden Schenn will be looking to solidify a spot at the Canadian Junior Team's Selection Camp this week.

The Brandon Wheat Kings' trio will play with Team WHL against the Russian Selects in Game #5 of the Subway Super Series Wednesday night in Victoria.

Hockey Canada uses the series as an evaluation tool for the Canadian Junior Team and with the Selection Camp roster set to be announced next week, it's the last opportunity for the players to impress.

"It's going to be a game that's a little nerve-wracking," says Robak, who is tied for 3rd among defenceman in the WHL with 24 points, "You're playing with the best in the Western League and against another country. The butterflies will be there but I'm sure they'll settle down and I can play the way I have been playing."

"It's a big step, definitely," adds Schenn, who has the added incentive of the 2010 World Juniors being held in his hometown of Saskatoon, "I went there last year and you meet a lot of good guys...I'm excited to go and it should be a good experience."

All three players are performing well heading to the game. Schenn has 18 points over an eight-game point-scoring streak, Robak has 12 points in the last seven games and Glennie has five goals and 12 points in the last eight contests.

"I feel, lately, that I've found a better stride," says Glennie, "I think I had a little slower start to the season than I wanted to but right now, I feel like I'm playing really well."

The CHL team have dominated the Russians over the seven-year history of the event, sporting a 34-6 record overall including an 11-1 mark by Team WHL.

The three Wheat King players will only participate in Wednesday's game in Victoria and then return to the Wheat City on Thursday to prepare for Brandon's home game against Swift Current on Friday night.

Chaff...F Mark Stone practiced in a non-contact jersey Monday as he continues his progress to return from a broken thumb that has sidelined him for two months...D Mark Schneider sat out practice Monday as he recovers from a gash below his left ear, suffering in Saturday's win in Moose Jaw...D Alexander Urbom (illness) also missed practice on Monday...former Wheat King Nathan Green will be out of Red Deer's lineup for eight weeks after suffering a broken fibula and a severed ligament at the end of the Rebels' loss in Medicine Hat on Sunday...Brandon product Derek LeBlanc has been assigned to the CHL's Rapid City Rush by the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Coaches Corner for November 23rd

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Wheat Kings Shoot Down Warriors

The Brandon Wheat Kings completed a busy week Saturday night with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Matt Calvert scored is 17th goal of the season with 28 seconds left in the third period to set the game into extra time while Jay Fehr notched the shootout winner for Brandon.

The Wheat Kings were somewhat fortunate to even have an opportunity after the Warriors dominated the opening 40 minutes, outshooting Brandon 28-10 and taking a 3-2 lead into the third period.

The third period proved to be Brandon’s best of the night with Brayden Schenn, Scott Glennie and Brodie Melnychuk all ringing shots off the crossbar in addition to Toni Rajala scoring his second of the game and Calvert’s game-tying goal.

“I just don’t think we were paying a big enough price in the first two period and, fortunately, De Serres was as good as he was to even give us a chance to even rally in the third period,” said Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon on CKLQ’s post-game show, “From that point on, I give our guys a ton of credit. They played very hard.”

Jacob De Serres stopped 38 shots in regulation and overtime for Brandon and then turned aside four of five Moose Jaw attempts in the shootout while Scott Glennie scored the other goal for the Wheat Kings.

Antonin Honeksek, Kevin Smith, Cody Smuk and Brendan Rowinski scored the goals for Moose Jaw while Jeff Bosch finished with 21 saves in the Warriors’ net.

Saturday’s game completed a stretch of five games in seven days for Brandon with the club winning four of those games.

“You are going to have tests in the schedule. It was one of the things were talked about; if we lost here tonight, we would have been 3-and-2 on the week which is okay in some respects because we played some real good teams,” says McCrimmon, “I think to find a way to finish with eight points out of a possible ten really helps our team grow.”

The Wheat Kings are now 16-10-0-2 on the season and have taken over sole possession of third-place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Medicine Hat and two ahead of the Warriors.

Chaff…Brandon D Mark Schneider left the game in the third period after being cut by a skate just below the left ear…F Brenden Walker and F Wheaton King were healthy scratches for Brandon while F Klarc Wilson (wrist), F Paul Van de Velde (illness) and F Mark Stone (thumb) were also out of the Wheat Kings’ lineup…Brandon F Brayden Schenn extended his point-scoring streak to eight games (4 G, 14 A)…Saturday’s victory was Brandon’s third in a row, matching their longest winning streak of the season.

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Last Second Goal Sparks Wheat Kings

Toni Rajala scored twice to lead the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen on Friday night.

Matt Calvert's goal just under a second left in the second period snapped a 2-2 tie and stood up as the game winner for Brandon.

"We had one chance and that was to put a puck on net or hit someone at the back post and, based on that, Scott (Glennie) knew what he wanted to do and Calvert and Schenn were on their toes," said Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon on CKLQ's post-game show, "It doesn't happen very often but it's just luck either; they're good players who made a real good play."

Alexander Urbom and Paul Van de Velde also scored for the Wheat Kings while Andrew Hayes made his third straight start and stopped 28 shots in the Wheat Kings' goal.

"It feels good to get on a roll," says Hayes, "I don't ever feel cold coming into games, you feel you have confidence coming into games when you play a few in a row and it helps the confidence when you come off a win as well."

Michael Stone and Ian Schultz scored the goals for Calgary while Martin Jones made 36 saves in the Hitmen net.

Brandon improved to 15-10-0-2 and moved into sole possession of second-place in the Western Hockey League's East Division.

The Wheat Kings conclude a stretch of five games in seven days on Saturday night when they pay a visit to the Moose Jaw Warriors (6:30 p.m., CKLQ)

Chaff...F Aaron Lewadniuk returned to the Wheat Kings' lineup Friday after missing three games because of illness while F Jordan DePape returned after missing two games with sore ribs...Brandon scratches Friday were F Mark Stone (thumb, indefinte) while D Dallas Ehrhardt, F Wheaton King, F Klarc Wilson and F Jesse Sinatynski were all healthy scratches...ex Wheat King Del Cowan faced his former team for the first time Friday and the Hitmen forward finished pointless and -2 on the night...Brandon C Brayden Schenn extended his point streak to seven games on Friday (4 G, 13 A).

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Cowan Returns to Wheat City

The Brandon Wheat Kings continue their busy week Friday night as they entertain the Calgary Hitmen (7:30 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place).

It's the fourth game in six days for the Wheat Kings as they welcome back an old teammate Friday.

Del Cowan will face Brandon for the first time since being released by the Wheat Kings at the October 15th 20-year old deadline.

"It'll be different but it'll be a good experience," says Cowan, who has a goal and an assist in seven games with Calgary, "I'll probably be able to laugh about it after with some of the guys over there."

Cowan was originally picked up by Prince George after being released by Brandon but the Cougars traded him to Calgary on November 4th for a conditional eighth round pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

Cowan had two goals in seven games with Brandon this season and a goal and four points in six games with the Cougars.

A fan favourite during his two-plus seasons with the Wheat Kings, Cowan isn't sure what kind of reaction to expect from the crowd Friday.

"Who knows? I know there's lots of family and stuff coming from Hartney," says Cowan, "It'll be good to see them and good for them to watch me. I know they're excited."

Brandon enters Friday's game in third-place in the WHL's East Division, one point behind Moose Jaw and nine behind the front-running Saskatoon Blades.

Chaff...F Aaron Lewadniuk (illness) took part in Thursday's practice and Friday's game-day skate and appears ready to return after missing three games...F Jordan DePape (ribs) could also return to the Wheat Kings' lineup Friday...Friday's game will broadcast across Western Canada by SHAW.

Hitmen/Wheat Kings' Notes

Calgary Hitmen (19-6-0-0) at Brandon Wheat Kings (14-10-0-2)Friday, November 20, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. (CST), Westman Communications Group Place

Brandon Game Notes: The Brandon Wheat Kings continue their busy week Friday night when they host the Calgary Hitmen (7:00 p.m., CKLQ). Brandon is playing their fourth game in six days and finish a stretch of five in seven when they visit the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday. The Wheat Kings are sitting in third-place in the WHL’s East Division entering Friday’s contest, one point behind the Warriors and nine back of the front-running Saskatoon Blades.

Vs. Calgary: Friday’s game is the second of four meetings between the Wheat Kings and Hitmen during the 2009-2010 regular season. The Hitmen defeated the Wheat Kings 4-3 in a shootout on October 7th in their first meeting of the year.
Previous Meetings:
(0-0-0-1 3 GF, 4 GA Brd PP: 1-3 (33.3%) Brd PK: 0-1 (0.0%)
Oct. 7 – Calgary 4 at Brandon 3 (Shootout) – Calvert 2 G’s.
Next Meeting:
Jan.29 – Brandon at Calgary, 8:00 p.m. (CST)

Last Five Games:
(3-2-0-0 26 GF, 22 GA Brd PP: 11-27 (40.7%) Brd PK: 17-23 (73.9%)
Nov.18 – Brandon 5 at Swift Current 4 – Glennie 2 G’s.
Nov.17 – Brandon 3 at Medicine Hat 4 – Schenn 1-1-2
Nov.15 – Regina 7 at Brandon 8 (OT) – Calvert 2-4-6. Schenn 2-3-5
Nov.13 – Saskatoon 4 at Brandon 3 – Robak, Calvert 1-1-2 each.
Nov.11 – Prince George 3 at Brandon 7 – Calvert, Rajala – 2-1-3 each.

Next Five Games:
Nov.21 – Brandon at Moose Jaw, 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Nov.27 – Swift Current at Brandon, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
Nov.28 – Brandon at Swift Current, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
Dec. 2 – Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Dec. 4 – Brandon at Prince Albert, 7:30 p.m. (CST)

Special Teams: The Wheat Kings’ power play is 11-for-27 in their last five games and 22-for-76 (28.9%) is their last 15 contests. Overall, Brandon is ranked 10th in the WHL with a 21.6% success rate. On the penalty-kill, the Wheat Kings broke a streak of allowing at least one opposition power-play goal in 14 straight games on Wednesday night. The club had allowed 22 power-play goals against in the stretch, and killed at a 66.2%success rate (43-for-65). Overall, Brandon is ranked 21st in the WHL at 73.6 % and have scored a league-leading ten shorthanded goals.

Roster: Brandon currently has 25 players (2 goaltenders, 7 defensemen and 16 forwards) on their roster. The Wheat Kings average age is 18.2 years while the club average’s height and weight is 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds.

Drafted Players: F Brayden Schenn (Los Angeles, 1st Round, 5th overall in 2009); F Scott Glennie (Dallas, 1st Round, 8th overall in 2009); F Toni Rajala (Edmonton, 4th Round, 101st overall in 2009, SIGNED); D Alexander Urbom (New Jersey, 3rd Round, 73rd overall in 2009, SIGNED); D Colby Robak (Florida, 2nd Round, 46th overall in 2008); F Matt Calvert (Columbus, 5th round, 127th overall in 2008); G Jacob De Serres (Philadelphia, 3rd Round, 84th overall in 2008).

Injury Report: F Mark Stone (thumb, indefinite); F Jordan DePape (ribs, day-to-day); F Aaron Lewadniuk (illness, day-to-day).

Who’s Hot: F Brayden Schenn is on a six-game point streak (4 G, 12 A) and has 28 points in the last 15 games…F Scott Glennie is on a four-game point streak (3 G, 4 A)…F Matt Calvert has points in five of the last six games (6 G, 8 A) and 30 points in the last 15 games…D Colby Robak had a four-game point streak (4 G, 5 A) end on Wednesday…D Alexander Urbom has nine points (3 G, 6 A) in the last seven games…F Jay Fehr had a four-game point streak (0 G, 4 A) end on Wednesday.

Stats’N’That: F Brayden Schenn is tied for 3rd in the WHL in points (37) and is 2nd in the WHL in assists (25). Schenn also leads the WHL with five shorthanded assists…F Matt Calvert leads the WHL with six shorthanded goals this season. Calvert is also 12th in the WHL in goals (15), is tied for 7th in points (34) and tied for 8th in plus/minus (+14)… F Jay Fehr is tied for 18th in the WHL with 29 points…Colby Robak is tied for 5th in defenceman scoring with 22 points…Robak has yet to record a penalty this season. He was mistakenly being saddled with a hooking minor in Wednesday’s victory in Swift Current…G Andrew Hayes leads the WHL with four shutouts. Hayes is also tied for 3rd in the WHL with 11 wins…three of Mark Schneider’s four goals this season have been game-winners.

Milestones: D Colby Robak played the 200th game of his Wheat Kings’ career on Wednesday night. Robak has 27 goals and 99 points in 200 career games…F Scott Glennie passed the 150 point mark for his WHL career last Sunday (65 G, 90 A in 140 games)…F Brayden Schenn is four points short of 200 for his WHL career. Schenn has 72 goals and 124 assists in 158 career games…F Matt Calvert played the 150th game of his WHL career last Sunday. Calvert has 165 points (67 G, 98 A) in his career…G Andrew Hayes has 10 career shutouts, one shy of the Wheat Kings’ franchise record of 11, held by Tyler Plante…G Jacob De Serres is three games shy of 100 for his WHL career…D Mark Schneider played his 100th career game last Sunday…F Jesse Sinatynski picked up his first career WHL goal in Sunday’s victory over Regina.

Did You Know: Three members of the Wheat Kings will play for Team WHL at Subway Super Series. D Colby Robak, F Brayden Schenn, F Scott Glennie will all play against the Russian Selects in the November 25th game in Victoria. Schenn will serve as one of the alternate captains for the game…F Matt Calvert was named the Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week on Monday. Calvert had five goals and 11 points in three games last week…Wheat Kings’ prospect Liam Liston is one of two goaltenders named to Team Pacific for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge…Four Wheat Kings’ prospects were named to Team Western for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Austin Lewis, Jens Meilleur, Rene Hunter and Jordan Fransoo will all play at the tournament just after Christmas in Timmins, Ontario…through 12 home games, the Wheat King are averaging 4601 fans per contest.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Wheat Kings Edge Broncos

The Brandon Wheat Kings earned a split of their two-game road trip with a 5-4 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday night.

Scott Glennie scored a pair of goals for Brandon while Brenden Walker, Michael Ferland and Mark Schneider also scored for the Wheat Kings.

Brandon scored a pair of power-play goals in the contest, notched a shorthanded goal and went a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty-kill, breaking a streak of allowing a power-play goal for 14 consecutive games.

“Tonight we had a night with 100 percent on the penalty-kill but, maybe more importantly, had a kill late in the third and were halfway through a second kill late in the third period with the game on the line,” said Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon on CKLQ’s post-game show, “That’s a positive for our team as well.”

Justin Dowling scored a pair of goals for Swift Current while Brad Hoban had a goal and two assists and Derek Claffey also scored for the Broncos.

Andrew Hayes made his second straight start in goal for Brandon, the first time a Wheat Kings’ netminder has started back-to-back games since October 19th.

“We wanted to see if back-to-back starts would help him lift his game a little bit,” says McCrimmon, “I think I mentioned to you earlier in the week that it was something we were going to look at at some point so that was the decision we made tonight and good for Andrew, I thought he was a big part of the win here tonight.”

Morgan Clark stopped 42 shots in the Swift Current net, as Brandon outshot the Broncos 47-42.


The victory improved Brandon’s record to 14-10-0-2 and leaves one point behind second-place Moose Jaw and nine points behind first-place Saskatoon in the WHL’s East Division.

The Wheat Kings’ next action is Friday night when they host the Calgary Hitmen (7:30 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place).

Chaff…F Mark Stone (thumb, indefinite), F Jordan DePape (ribs, 1 week), F Aaron Lewadniuk (illness, day-to-day), F Klarc Wilson (healthy) and D Dallas Ehrhardt (healthy) were Brandon’s scratches on Wednesday…newly acquired Stepan Novotny made his Broncos' debut on Wednesday but was held without a point...Brandon co-captain Brayden Schenn was named Wednesday as an alternate captain for Team WHL for the Subway Super Series game in Victoria on November 25th…former Wheat King Jesse Hall, who was released by Brandon on November 4, has joined the MJHL’s Winnipeg Saints...three of Schneider's four goals this season have been game-winning goals.

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Broncos/Wheat Kings Notes

Brandon Wheat Kings (13-10-0-2) at Swift Current Broncos (12-10-0-2)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. (CST), Credit Union I-Plex

Brandon Game Notes: The Brandon Wheat Kings conclude a two-game, mid-week road trip on Wednesday night when they pay a visit to the Swift Current Broncos (7:00 p.m., CKLQ). The Wheat Kings dropped a 4-3 decision in Medicine Hat on Tuesday night in their first game of the doubleheader with Brayden Schenn, Alexander Urbom and Darren Bestland scoring the goals for the Wheat Kings. Brandon enters Wednesday’s game in third-place in the WHL’s East Division, two points behind second-place Moose Jaw and two points ahead of the fourth-place Broncos.

Vs. Swift Current: Wednesday’s game is the second of six meetings between the Broncos and Wheat Kings this season and the first of three head-to-head matchups over the next ten days. Brandon defeated the Broncos 3-0 in the only previous meeting this season on September 25th, which was the Wheat Kings’ home-opener.
Previous Meetings:
(1-0-0-0 3 GF, 0 GA Brd PP: 0-3 (0.0%) Brd PK: 2-2 (100.0%)
Sept.25 – Swift Current 0 at Brandon 3 – Hale 1-1-2, Hayes 16 Saves.
Next Meeting:
Nov.27 – Swift Current at Brandon, 7:30 p.m. (CST)

Last Five Games:
(3-2-0-0 26 GF, 19 GA Brd PP: 9-23 (39.1%) Brd PK: 18-25 (72.0%)
Nov.17 – Brandon 3 at Medicine Hat 4 – Schenn 1-1-2
Nov.15 – Regina 7 at Brandon 8 (OT) – Calvert 2-4-6. Schenn 2-3-5
Nov.13 – Saskatoon 4 at Brandon 3 – Robak, Calvert 1-1-2 each.
Nov.11 – Prince George 3 at Brandon 7 – Calvert, Rajala – 2-1-3 each.
Nov. 7 – Medicine Hat 1 at Brandon 5 – Schenn 1-2-3

Next Five Games:
Nov.20 – Calgary at Brandon, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
Nov.21 – Brandon at Moose Jaw, 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Nov.27 – Swift Current at Brandon, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
Nov.28 – Brandon at Swift Current, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
Dec. 2 – Saskatoon at Brandon, 7:00 p.m. (CST)

Special Teams: The Wheat Kings’ power play is 9-for-19 in their last four games and 20-for-68 (29.4%) is their last 14 contests. Overall, Brandon is ranked 10th in the WHL with a 21.4% success rate. On the penalty-kill, the Wheat Kings have allowed at least one power-play goal against in 14 consecutive games, going 43-for-65 (66.2%) in that span. The last time Brandon did not give up a power-play goal was October 16th versus Lethbridge. Overall, Brandon is ranked 21st in the WHL at 72.5 %. On the plus side, the Wheat Kings have scored nine shorthanded goals, the most in the WHL.

Roster: Brandon currently has 25 players (2 goaltenders, 7 defensemen and 16 forwards) on their roster. The Wheat Kings average age is 18.2 years while the club average’s height and weight is 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds.

Drafted Players: F Brayden Schenn (Los Angeles, 1st Round, 5th overall in 2009); F Scott Glennie (Dallas, 1st Round, 8th overall in 2009); F Toni Rajala (Edmonton, 4th Round, 101st overall in 2009, SIGNED); D Alexander Urbom (New Jersey, 3rd Round, 73rd overall in 2009, SIGNED); D Colby Robak (Florida, 2nd Round, 46th overall in 2008); F Matt Calvert (Columbus, 5th round, 127th overall in 2008); G Jacob De Serres (Philadelphia, 3rd Round, 84th overall in 2008).

Injury Report: F Mark Stone (thumb, indefinite); F Jordan DePape (ribs, 1 week); F Aaron Lewadniuk (illness, day-to-day).

Who’s Hot: F Brayden Schenn is on a five-game point streak (4 G, 11 A) and has 27 points in the last 14 games…D Colby Robak is on a four-game point streak (4 G, 5 A)… F Matt Calvert had a four-game goal and point streak (6 G, 7 A) end Tuesday night. Calvert has 29 points in the last 14 games… F Scott Glennie has points in four of the last five games (2 G, 5 A)…D Alexander Urbom has seven points (3 G, 4 A) in the last six games…F Jay Fehr is on a four-game point streak (0 G, 4 A).

Stats’N’That: F Matt Calvert leads the WHL with six shorthanded goals this season. The total matches what the league-leaders had all of last season…Calvert is also tied for 11th in the WHL in goals (15) and is tied for 8th in points (33)…F Brayden Schenn is 4th in points (36) and tied for 2nd in the WHL in assists (24). Schenn also leads the WHL with five shorthanded assists…F Jay Fehr is tied for 15th in the WHL with 29 points…Colby Robak is tied for 4th in defenceman scoring with 22 points…Calvert is 8th in the WHL with +15 rating while Schenn and Robak are tied for 9th at +14…G Andrew Hayes leads the WHL with four shutouts…Hayes is tied for fourth in the WHL with 10 wins.

Milestones: D Colby Robak will play the 200th game of his Wheat Kings’ career on Wednesday night. Robak has 27 goals and 99 points in 199 career games…F Scott Glennie passed the 150 point mark for his WHL career this past Sunday (63 G, 90 A in 139 games)…F Brayden Schenn is five points short of 200 for his WHL career. Schenn has 72 goals and 123 assists in 157 career games…F Matt Calvert played the 150th game of his WHL career this past Sunday. Calvert has 164 points (67 G, 97 A) in his career…G Andrew Hayes has 10 career shutouts, one shy of the Wheat Kings’ franchise record of 11, held by Tyler Plante…G Jacob De Serres is three games shy of 100 for his WHL career…D Mark Schneider played his 100th career game this past Sunday…F Jesse Sinatynski picked up his first career WHL goal in Sunday’s victory over Regina…F Klarc Wilson recorded his first WHL point, an assist, in last Wednesday’s victory over Prince George.

Did You Know: F Matt Calvert was named the Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week on Monday. Calvert had five goals and 11 points in three games last week…Wheat Kings’ prospect Liam Liston is one of two goaltenders named to Team Pacific for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge…Four Wheat Kings’ prospects were named to Team Western for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Austin Lewis, Jens Meilleur, Rene Hunter and Jordan Fransoo will all play at the tournament just after Christmas in Timmins, Ontario…three members of the Wheat Kings have been named to Team WHL for Subway Super Series later this month. D Colby Robak, F Brayden Schenn, F Scott Glennie will all play against the Russian Selects in the November 25th game in Victoria…through 12 home games, the Wheat King are averaging 4601 fans per contest.

Tigers Edge Wheat Kings

The Brandon Wheat Kings dropped a 4-3 decision to the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday night.

Bretton Cameron’s power-play goal 37 seconds into the third period proved to be the game-winner for Medicine Hat, one of two power-play goals the Tigers scored in the contest.

The Wheat Kings have now surrendered 22 power-plays against in their last 14 games, killing at just over a 66 percent success rate in that span.

“I have liked it a little better but the results aren’t there and special teams are about results,” said Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon on CKLQ’s post-game show, “I think that our guys can’t get discouraged because we are doing a lot of the right things on our penalty-kill.”

The Wheat Kings also gave up back-to-back goals 44 secconds early in the second period that snapped a 1-1 tie.

“I didn’t think that we won shifts to start the second period and, eventually, they took the 2-1 lead and then we just didn’t respond and, all of a sudden, it was a 3-1 lead,” says McCrimmon, “We took our timeout and I thought from the timeout for the rest of the night that we were the better team.”

Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist for Brandon with Alexander Urbom and Darren Bestland also scoring for the Wheat Kings.

Colby Robak and Scott Glennie added a pair of assists each for Brandon.

Andrew Hayes stopped 19 shots in the Wheat Kings’ net while Devan Dubyk made 20 saves in the Medicine Hat net.

The loss drops Brandon’s overall record to 13-10-0-2 including a 7-5-0-1 mark on the road.
The Wheat Kings are right back in action on Wednesday night when they visit the Swift Current Broncos (7:00 p.m., CKLQ).

Chaff…F Aaron Lewadniuk missed his second straight game due to illness on Tuesday while the other Brandon scratches were Mark Stone (thumb), Jordan DePape (ribs), Wheaton King (healthy) and Dallas Ehrhardt (healthy)…Wheat Kings’ prospect Liam Liston is one of two goaltenders named to Team Pacific for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Liston currently leads the Alberta Midget Hockey League with a 1.86 GAA and has a .915 SCPT in seven games with the St. Albert Sports Raiders.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

CSS Preliminary Rankings Released

The NHL Central Scouting Service has released its preliminary rankings for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The rankings are on a league-by-league basis with Brett Connelly of the Prince George Cougars topping the WHL list.

Edmonton defencman Mark Pysyk was #2 with blueliner Alex Petrovic of Red Deer #3.

Brandon’s Mark Stone (right) was ranked 11th while Jordan DePape of the Wheat Kings was noted, but given an LV (limited viewing) because he has missed a large portion of the season so far due to injury.

As far as goaltenders are concerns, Seattle’s Calvin Pickard was #1 with Everett’s Kent Simpson #2 and Edmonton’s Cam Lanigan #3.