Wheat Kings
Hockey
Lowther weathers twin tests on draft day
5 minute read Friday, May. 29, 2026The Western Hockey League draft can be a test of patience for players, but Wyatt Lowther passed it and another one on May 7 with flying colours.
That day, he woke up early and put the draft on his television. His whole family was there and they watched a few rounds but Lowther wasn’t picked.
Lowther, who was born and raised in Maple Ridge, B.C., had to go school for a test when the fourth round was being announced, and his teacher took his phone as he walked into the classroom.
“I didn’t know if I was getting drafted, I didn’t know anything that was going on,” Lowther said. “I had to take my test — it was around two hours — and when I get out, I’m walking back to BWC (Burnaby Winter Club) to get picked up my mother and dad, and I had a friend run up to me. It was ‘Dude, dude, you just got drafted by Brandon.’
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Hockey
Wheat Kings seek new assistant coaches
2 minute read Friday, May. 22, 2026The Brandon Wheat Kings are looking for two new assistant coaches.
The Western Hockey League club announced Friday it wasn’t renewing the contracts of Mark Derlago and Del Pedrick and would start searching for their replacements.
Mark Derlago ‘s hiring was announced on July 23, 2019, five days after the team hired Dave Lowry as head coach. Pedrick was hired on Aug. 25, 2022 to replace Daniel Johnston, who took a pro job.
The Wheat Kings were swept in the playoffs by the Calgary Hitmen in April after finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. They fell 4-1 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2025 post-season.
Hockey
Niverville wins Centennial Cup
1 minute read Monday, May. 18, 2026The Niverville Nighthawks beat the host Summerside Western Capitals 4-1 on Sunday night to capture the Centennial Cup.
It’s just the fourth time a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team has won the national Junior A championship, following the Portage Terriers (2015, 1973) and Selkirk Steelers (1974).
In the final, former Brandon Wheat Kings forward Hayden Wheddon of Stonewall scored twice, including the winner.
The Nighthawks won all six games in Summerside, beating the Toronto Patriots 4-3 in the semifinal despite falling behind 3-0. In the preliminary round in Group A, they got past Summerside 5-4 in overtime, the Thunder Bay North Stars 7-2, the Canmore Eagles 6-4 and the Rockland Nationals 7-6.
Hockey
Carels set to leave WHL for UND
1 minute read Monday, May. 18, 2026Carson Carels has played his final Western Hockey League game.
The smooth-skating 17-year-old defenceman from Cypress River has announced he has committed to attend the University of North Dakota next season, leaving the Prince George Cougars after two full seasons.
The six-foot-two Carels, who had 20 goals and 53 assists in 58 regular-season games and also suited up for the Canadian national junior team, is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming National Hockey League draft.
In 125 career regular season games, he had 26 goals and 85 assists for 111 points, with 110 penalty minutes and a plus-minus of +48.
Hockey
Edwards eager to make next step
8 minute read Friday, May. 8, 2026The path Rylan Edwards took to the Brandon Wheat Kings started with a short walk from his house.
The 15-year-old forward, who Brandon took with the 18th overall pick of the Western Hockey League draft on Wednesday, was on the ice by age two and playing a year later.
It came with the support of father Troy, mother Joely and older brothers Ethan and Logan.
“My dad brought me into hockey,” Edwards said. “He built me a rink right beside our house and flooded it every winter, and during the summer I shot pucks out there every day. That was awesome.
Local Sports
Ritchie moves up a league in Germany
1 minute read Friday, May. 8, 2026Nolan Ritchie is changing teams and leagues but staying in Germany this winter as he enters his fourth season in professional hockey.
The 23-year-old former Brandon Wheat Kings sniper has signed with the Bietigheim Steelers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga 2 (DEL 2), the second highest in the country behind the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
He spent the last two seasons in the third tier Oberliga with the Heilbronner Falken and Hannover Indians.
Ritchie played full-time with his hometown Wheat Kings between 2019 and 2023, graduating as captain.
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