Wheat Kings from Calgary eager for series

When the Brandon Wheat Kings start their Western Hockey League quarterfinal series against the Calgary Hitmen in Cowtown on Friday, it will be a home game for three of their forwards.

Overage forward Nick Johnson, 18-year-old Ryan Boyce and 20-year-old Brett Wilson all grew up in Calgary and are excited the playoffs will begin in their hometown after the fifth-place Wheat Kings failed to catch the fourth-place Hitmen.

Defenceman Merrek Arpin, who has missed the entire season with injury, is also from Calgary.

“It was looking that way for a long time and we were trying to battle to get home ice advantage,” Johnson said. “It’s cool, it’s not just me, there are a couple of other guys from Calgary too. I was talking to my family when they were (for awards night on Saturday) and said ‘I’ll see you in a couple of days.’

“It’s cool I get one more time in that barn.”

The six-foot-two, 207-pound Johnson, who was acquired in the Nate Danielson deal with the Portland Winterhawks on Jan. 10, 2024, played in 68 games this season for the first time and set career highs with 22 goals and 31 assists.

He’s looking forward to skating against his hometown team.

“They have a lot of younger guys, who you can say are inexperienced, but they work hard and they’re a good team,” Johnson said. “We’ve looked at our matchup, we’re 2-2 and both wins have been on the road for each team. It’s going to be a really good series and hard.”

The five-foot-10, 177-pound rookie Boyce, who is in his 17-year-old season, can’t quit believe his luck.

“It’s unbelievable with all the friends and family who are texting and coming out,” Boyce said. “I couldn’t be anymore excited to see them and be able to play in front of them in some of the biggest games of my life. There is nothing better I could ask for.”

The teams are scheduled to play Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 in Calgary, with Games 3, 4 and 5 in Virden.

Boyce skated against the Hitmen three times this season and has a healthy respect for them.

“They’re fast, they’re not the more physical team but they can play hard too,” Boyce said. “We have to be careful of their special teams. They have one of the top power plays in the league so we have to lock that down and I think we should find some success.”

Perhaps the neatest story of the three is Wilson, who was skating with the BCHL’s Okotoks Oilers in early February when the Wheat Kings asked if was interested in joining them. He played his first WHL game on Feb. 7 and has skated in 17 since.

Needless to say, he’s a fan of playing playoff hockey in the Saddledome, something he couldn’t have imagined two months ago.

“I love it,” Wilson said. “You play the team and you’re home grown. It is quite the coincidence.”

Even so, the five-foot-eight, 173-pound forward harbours no illusions the series will be an easy one. One of his 18 games with the Wheat Kings was against the Hitmen and he scored an empty-net goal in a 6-4 win on March 11.

“They’re disciplined,” Wilson said. “They don’t take a lot of penalties. It means they play the right way. They’re fast and they’re skilled but I think if we get in their face and play them hard, that any game is going to be just whoever shows up.

“Looking at the numbers in our season series, we’re evenly matched teams because we went 2-2. It’s going to be a hard-fought battle but it’s going to be fun.”

DRAFT LOTTERY

The WHL draft lottery will be held Thursday at 8 p.m. There will be 28 balls in the drum.The Kelowna Rockets, after a trade with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, will have seven.

Wenatchee (from Swift Current) will have six balls, Vancouver will have five, Vancouver (from Wenatchee) will have four, Victoria (from Moose Jaw) will have three, Tri-City will have two and Victoria will have one.

The first round of the draft will be held Wednesday, May 6, with the other rounds on Thursday, May 7. The league is doing away with the U.S. Prospects draft, with those players entering the main draft instead.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

 

Here is a look at Brandon Wheat Kings who are from Calgary and Hitmen who are from Brandon, courtesy of information available on hockeydb.com.

The players are sorted in order of when they started with the team, and divided by decade.

WHEATIES FROM CALGARY

Nick Johnson (2023-2026), Brett Wilson (2025-2026), Ryan Boyce (2025-2026), Merrek Arpin (2024-2025), Ben Binder-Nord (2024-2025), Marcus Nguyen (2024-2025), Ethan Eskit (2022-2025), Charlie Elick (2021-2025), Nick Jones (2021-2024).

Riley Ginnell (2019-2023), Connor Ungar (2018-2021), Jack Zayat (2018-2020), Kade Jensen (2016-2018), Aiden Mucenski (2016-2018), Zachary Russell (2016-2018), Logan Thompson (2014-2018), Reid Duke (2014-2017), Dominic Thom (2013-2016), Braylon Shmyr (2012-2016),Riley Van Horne (2012-2014), Matthew Mackay (2010-2011), Michael Tadjdeh (2010-2011).

Dallas Ehrhardt (2009-2010), Jacob De Serres (2009-2010), Alex Grill-Donovan (2007-2009), Tyler Dyck (2002-2004), Greg Watson (2002-2003), Ryan Stone (2001-2005).

Ray Fraser (1999-2000), Josh Woitas (1996-1998), David Darguzas (1994-1996), Kevin Pozzo (1994-1995), Mark Franks (1992-1993), Don Blishen (1990-1991).

Kevin Schmalz (1989-1992), Mark Bassen (1988-1989), Chris Robertson (1988-1989), Ed Brost (1986-1987), Darryl Mulvenna (1981-1982), Grant Jensen (1980-1981).

Steve Harris (1977-1978).

HITMEN FROM BRANDON

Jordan Stallard (2014-2017), Brock Sutherland (2011-2012).

Carson McMillan (2005-2009), Derek LeBlanc (2005-2007), Alex Plante (2004-2009), Ryan White (2004-2008).

Jeromie Kufflick (1995-1996).

» The Brandon Sun