Wheat Kings looking to create offence

The Brandon Wheat Kings can expect the Wenatchee Wild to make it tough to score when the American club visits Assiniboine Credit Union Place tonight.

The Wild (6-10-1-0) have struggled to score themselves, with a league-low 38 goals, but they are tied for the fourth fewest goals allowed with a stingy 51 in 17 Western Hockey League games.

The Wheat Kings (13-6-0-1), in comparison, have scored 66 goals and allowed 62 in 20 games.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray said the visitors won’t make it easy on them.

“We’ve talked about these teams you see once,” Murray said. “You have to revert back to you a little bit more. Obviously we’ll do our pre-scouts, but they’re a hard-working team that plays with good structure and they’re stingy to create offence against.

“I thought we did a pretty good job of creating some offensive opportunities (Wednesday) and we’re going to need the same effort or more for (tonight).”

The Wheat Kings are currently on a two-game winning streak, after beating the Saskatoon Blades 3-2 in overtime on Saturday and besting the Portland Winterhawks 6-2 on Wednesday.

Veteran forward Joby Baumuller, who had a pair of goals against the Winterhawks, wants to see a similar effort tonight.

“We have to play a full 60 minutes,” Baumuller said. “If we compete and play our game and not let loose through any of the periods, we’ll have a very successful game.”

Wenatchee currently sits in 22nd place in the 23-team league, but Brandon certainly can’t take anything for granted, with previous losses to the Prince Albert Raiders (18th), the rebuilding Everett Silvertips (19th), the Moose Jaw Warriors (20th) and the Prince George Cougars (21st).

The Wheat Kings and Wild have met three times since Wenatchee entered the league for the 2023-24 season after the implosion and relocation of the Winnipeg Ice, with the Wild winning the first-ever game in the series 4-3 in a shootout at home. The Wheat Kings beat them 5-2 on Feb. 5, 2025, at home and 6-3 on Jan. 28, 2026, in Wenatchee.

In that sole game in Brandon, Baumuller had a pair of goals, overagers Marcus Nguyen and Nolan Flamand both had a goal and an assist, and Carter Klippenstein closed the game out with an empty netter.

Carson Bjarnason made 34 stops for the win, with Wenatchee’s Brendan Gee stopping 31 shots.

Wenatchee opened their current eastern swing with a 4-0 loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Wednesday. After tonight’s game, they meet the Regina Pats on Sunday, the Prince Albert Raiders (Tuesday, Nov. 17), the Moose Jaw Warriors (Wednesday, Nov. 18) and the Saskatoon Blades (Friday, Nov. 20).

Their next home game is on Friday, Nov. 27, when the Kelowna Rockets visit.

Against the U.S. Division this season, the Wheat Kings have beaten the Seattle Thunderbirds (2-1 on Oct. 23) and the Portland Winterhawks (6-2 on Wednesday) and lost to the Everett Silvertips (5-3 on Oct. 25).

After posting a 5-1-0-0 record on its trip through the B.C. Division, Brandon now boasts a 7-2-0-0 record against Western Conference teams.

“It’s been pretty cool,” Baumuller said. “With all these games, you look forward to the teams you only play once a year. It’s been a lot of fun and it’s awesome we have that record against them.”

The Wheat Kings finish up the season series against the Spokane Chiefs on Jan. 9 and the Tri-City Americans on Jan. 12.

“You don’t put too much thought into it, but I guess we had a pretty good B.C. trip so that certainly helps,” Murray said. “You play every game to give yourself a chance to win and against that conference, we’re doing a pretty good job. We have to remain focused. We expect a snarly Wenatchee team coming in.”

From the outside looking in, it’s impressive. The Wheat Kings are near the top of the Eastern Conference with a power play that’s only hitting at 18.6 per cent, which is 13th in the league.

They’ve only scored one power play goal in their last six games, a span in which they had 17 opportunities. Overall, they’ve scored 13 goals on 70 chances while surrendering five shorthanded markers.

It’s a bit of a puzzle to everyone involved, especially with four players above or near a point-per-game pace.

“We certainly have the personnel,” Murray said. “You’ve got to stick with the structure and the things you talk about from staff to players, but at the same time, you have to take what’s given. It’s not always pass here, pass here, pass here and this guy is going to be open. It’s take what’s given to you. I think our guys are maybe second-guessing themselves a little bit more right now.

“We believe in the personnel we have here. It’s just a matter of executing and getting it done.”

Four of Baumuller’s goals have come on the man advantage, and he also has four power-play assists while playing on the top unit. He said they have to find a way to get more pucks in.

“It’s important,” Baumuller said. “It’s another way we can get momentum for our team and build confidence throughout some players. It’s important to get that going.”

They can only hope for the support and encouragement they had on Wednesday.

With dozens of minor hockey teams in attendance, Brandon’s announced crowd on Wednesday was 4,656, the largest crowd since the team drew 4,824 fans on Oct. 28, 2023, for a 2-1 victory over Saskatoon.

“It was awesome,” Baumuller said. “It’s always a lot more fun when the building is packed. There’s a lot more energy. It was awesome to everyone come out to support us.”

The puck drops tonight at 7.

ICINGS: The Wild are led by three-time WHL coach of the year winner Don Nachbaur, who leads in career WHL games coached and is third in victories … Former Wheat Kings video coach Dan Johnston is an assistant coach with the Wild … With the trade of Boissevain’s Josh Fluker to Saskatoon, the only Manitoban on the Wenatchee roster is 18-year-old forward Alexandre Andre of Winnipeg … Brandon travels to Prince Albert to meet the Raiders on Saturday.

» pbergson@brandonsun.com