Wheat Kings have made some great deals

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/01/2025 (350 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Western Hockey League deadline falls on Thursday, which makes it a really good time not to be Marty Murray.

The Brandon Wheat Kings head coach and general manager faces an almost impossible decision this week as he decides how to proceed in the next couple of days.

On one hand, he has a team that’s shown tremendous promise and could be boosted by one of the top young talents in the league if 18-year-old forward Roger McQueen returns from injury. On the other hand, it’s a team that’s best days are probably ahead of it.

So does Murray sell now to buy later? Does he buy now and potentially bite into that bright future? Does he stand pat and hope he has a team that could potentially win a couple of rounds with a healthy and motivated McQueen back in the lineup?

With that in mind, here are the 15 most impactful trades Brandon has made in the last 15 years, and why I think they matter.

1. BRAYDEN SCHENN

— On Jan. 10, 2011, Brandon sent 19-year-old forward Brayden Schenn and a third-round pick in 2012 (Cameron Hebig) to Saskatoon for forward Tim McGauley, 15-year-old decenceman Ayrton Nikkel, a first-round pick in 2011 (Jordan Papirny), a second-round pick in 2011 (Jayce Hawryluk), a first-round pick in 2012 (traded), a first-round pick in the 2012 Canadian Hockey League import draft (Richard Nejezchleb).

• McGauley played 276 regular season games and 50 playoff, racking up a combined 309 points. He was a key part of the 2016 championship team.

• Nikkel played 102 games in Brandon and on Jan. 10, 2013 was sent to the Everett Silvertips for 18-year-old defenceman Nick Walters and 16-year-old forward Taylor Sanheim. Walters played 50 games over two seasons and on Nov. 16, 2013, the Wheat Kings sent Walters, 17-year-old forward Taylor Cooper and the rights to 16-year-old defenceman Tanner Browne to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for 17-year-old defenceman Ryan Pilon and the rights to 16-year-old forward Colt Conrad.

Pilon played 117 games for the Wheat Kings and had 81 points, but shocked the club at the start of the 2015-16 season by retiring before his 19-year-old season.

• Papirny spent three-and-a-half seasons in Brandon, and was in net when they won the 2016 championship. On Jan. 10, 2017, the Wheat Kings sent the overager Papirny to Swift Current for in exchange for 19-year-old goaltender Travis Child, 19-year-old defenceman Kade Jensen, a second-round pick in 2019, and a fifth-round pick in 2019.

The Wheat Kings then sent the second-round pick and 19-year-old defenceman Jordan Wharrie to the Vancouver Giants for 20-year-old defenceman Dmitri Osipov.

• Child played nine games for Brandon and was sent to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the offseason for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2018 (Owen Weihs).

• Jensen played 57 games in Brandon before the overager was sent to the Victoria Royals on Dec. 1, 2017 for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2018 (Logen Hammett).

• Hammett played 144 games in Brandon and on May 19, 2023, the overager was traded to the Vancouver Giants for a fourth-round pick in 2024 (Ethan Young).

• Hawryluk played 277 regular season and playoff games with Brandon and was on the first line when they won in 2016.

• The first-round pick in 2012 was sent to Victoria on Jan. 9, 2012 with 18-year-old defenceman Jordan Fransoo and forward 17-year-old forward Dakota Conroy in exchange for 19-year-old forward Kevin Sundher.

• Nejezchleb played 103 games in Brandon but lost the battle for an import spot in the 2014-15 season, and on Nov. 4, 2014, was sent to the Tri-City Americans for third-round picks in 2015 (Rylan Bettens) and 2017 (Nolan Ritchie).

• Bettens played 114 games with the Wheat Kings over the course of three seasons, but on Sept. 27, 2018 was traded to the Portland Winterhawks for a conditional pick in 2021. Those conditions weren’t met.

• Ritchie played 185 games with the Wheat Kings, leading the team in scoring in the 2021-22 season after returning from a broken femur suffered in his 17-year-old season.

2. KALE CLAGUE

— On Jan. 10, 2018, 19-year-old defenceman Clague went to Moose Jaw for forward Luka Burzan, defenceman Chase Hartje, a first-round pick in 2019, a first-round pick in 2021 and a second-round pick in 2018.

• Burzan played in 161 regular season games over two-and-a-half seasons with Brandon, contributing 84 goals and 77 assists.

• Hartje played 73 regular season and playoff games with Brandon over a pair of half seasons and had 22 points. When they traded Hartje to the Kootenay Ice on Jan. 10, 2019, Brandon acquired Red Deer’s third-round pick, which they used to take Wawanesa’s Owen Harris, who suited up in 66 games.

• A second-round pick in 2018 (Moose Jaw sent the pick it received from Prince George in the Nikita Popugaev deal, and Brandon grabbed Brett Hyland with the 24th overall pick).

• A first-round pick in 2019 (Rylen Roersma, 16th overall). When Roersma was traded to Edmonton to get Brandon down to three overagers in September, the Wheat Kings received a second-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027.

• A first-round pick in 2021 (Roger McQueen, fourth overall).

3. TANNER KASPICK

— On Jan. 10, 2018, 19-year-old forward Tanner Kaspick and college-bound prospect Cameron MacDonald were sent to Victoria for Jonny Lambos, Ty Thorpe, a first-round pick in 2019 and a first-round pick in 2021.

• Lambos played 127 games in Brandon over three seasons and was dealt as an overager to the Everett Silvertips on July 14, 2021 for a seventh-round pick in 2023 that was used to select forward prospect Maddox Gandha.

• Thorpe played 136 games in Brandon, and after he asked for a trade to have a chance at a larger role, Brandon received a conditional pick in 2023 from the Vancouver Giants on Aug. 12, 2021 that they used to take forward prospect Knox Bendera.

• A first-round pick in 2019 (Brandon traded up with Kelowna and grabbed Nate Danielson fifth overall, who later became a franchise star. See below what his trade meant.)

• A first-round pick in 2021 (Charlie Elick).

4. REID DUKE/MACOY ERKAMPS

— On Sept. 30, 2014, Brandon acquired 19-year-old defenceman Macoy Erkamps, 18-year-old forward Reid Duke and 16-year-old forward prospect Tak Anholt from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for 18-year-old defenceman Kord Pankewicz, 18-year-old forward Brett Kitt and 18-year-old Ryley Lindgren.

While Brandon gave up some talented players, Erkamps and Duke became massive pieces of the 2016 championship team.

5. NATE DANIELSON

— On Jan. 10, 2024, 19-year-old forward and team captain Nate Danielson was dispatched to Portland in return for 18-year-old defenceman Rhett Ravndahl, 18-year-old forward Nicholas Johnson of Calgary, first-round picks in 2025 and 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2026.

• Johnson is a power forward who has battled injury but has 30 points in 36 games with the Wheat Kings.

• Ravndahl is a stay-at-home defender who has played 57 games in Brandon. He scored the teddy-bear toss goal last month.

6. PETER QUENNEVILLE

— On May 13, 2011, Brandon sent a third-round pick in 2015 to the Prince George Cougars for the rights to Peter Quenneville. Quenneville left Quinnipiac University to join his younger brother John in Brandon, and in 143 regular season and playoff games, had 150 points, including 59 goals.

7. MITCH WHEATON

— On Jan. 4, 2016, the Wheat Kings made a deal that helped them win a championship when they sent disgruntled overage defenceman Colton Waltz and 18-year-old forward Braylon Shymr to Saskatoon for overage defenceman Mitch Wheaton, 17-year-old defenceman Schael Higson and a second-round pick in 2017 (Vinny Iorio).

• Wheaton battled a shoulder injury but stabilized the blue-line, staying back as Clague rushed the puck.

• Higson spent parts of four seasons with the Wheat Kings, playing 192 regular season games and 16 playoff games. He was dealt to Kelowna on Jan. 9, 2019 for fellow overage defenceman Braydyn Chizen and a fifth-round pick in 2019 that was used on goalie Nick Jones, who spent a season with the club.

• Iorio was a first-round talent who was playing prep hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, so scouts weren’t sure he was coming to major junior. As a result, Brandon took a chance and benefited wildly. Iorio played 191 regular season games with Brandon, blossoming into an elite defender who now has nine NHL games under his belt with Washington.

8. BRENDEN WALKER

— On May 3, 2012, Walker and a conditional second-round pick in 2013 were sent to Saskatoon for a second-round pick in 2012 (Tanner Browne), and a second-rounder in 2013 and a third-rounder in 2014, both of which Brandon traded.

Another provision of the Walker deal allowed Brandon to swap picks in the first round of the 2014 draft and when Saskatoon finished last in the league, the Wheat Kings drafted Stelio Mattheos with the first overall pick.

• Mattheos played 298 regular season and playoff games with Brandon, contributing 139 goals and 303 points in four seasons. He graduated as captain following the 2018-19 season.

9. MATTEO MICHELS

— On Nov. 13, 2023, disgruntled forward Tony Wilson was sent to Regina for Matteo Michels in a one-for-one swap of 18-year-old forwards. Michels has 49 points in 82. games with Brandon, while Wilson has 28 points in 73 games with Regina and has been a healthy scratch some nights this season as the Pats opt instead to give ice time to younger players.

10. SHAYNE WIEBE

— On Dec. 13, 2009, Brandon sent 17-year-old Jordan DePape to Kamloops for 19-year-old Shayne Wiebe as the Wheat Kings prepared to host the 2010 Memorial Cup. Wiebe injected a shot of offence into the Brandon lineup, and scored 44 goals in his overage season of 2010-11 as he served as team captain.

11. CALDER ANDERSON

— On Aug. 8, 2022, Brandon sent a seventh-round pick in 2024 to Moose Jaw for overage forward Calder Anderson. While it looked like the Brandonite might be in tough to even make the team, he beat out Riley Ginnell for the final overage spot and proceeded to obliterate his previous career highs with 16 goals and 50 points in 65 games while playing alongside his best buddy, Nolan Ritchie. He also injected a substantial dose of character and leadership into the room.

12. JAYDEN WIENS

— On Sept. 20, 2023, Brandon sent a third-round pick in 2025 and a fourth-round pick in 2027 to Saskatoon for the overage forward Wiens. The heart-and-soul Wiens, who battled shoulder problems all seasons, set career highs with 25 goals and 44 points while also leading by example.

13. JAKE CHIASSON

— On Jan. 10, 2023, the 19-year-old forward Chiasson was sent to the Saskatoon Blades in return for a first-round pick in 2023 (Giorgos Pantelas), a second-round pick in 2025 and a conditional second-round pick in 2026. The conditional pick was waived when Chiasson did not return for his overage season.

• Pantelas made the Wheat Kings at 16 and has been an impactful addition to Brandon’s young blue-line.

14. REID GOW

— On Jan. 5, 2015, Brandon sent a conditional fifth-round pick in either 2015 or 2016 for overage defenceman Reid Gow, who was playing at the University of Manitoba. Gow, who was Spokane’s captain in 2013-14, played 50 regular season and playoff games with Brandon, providing 17 points and some stout defence to the Wheat Kings.

15. LUKE SHIPLEY

— On Nov. 24, 2022, Brandon sent 17-year-old Teydon Trembecky, a third-round pick in 2023 — it was originally Red Deer’s pick, went to Lethbridge and was acquired in the Tyson Zimmer trade — a fifth-round pick in 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2026 for 17-year-old forward Tony Wilson and 18-year-old defenceman Luke Shipley. Brandon later recouped the fifth-round pick in 2024 when they sent overager Dawson Pasternak to Victoria on Oct. 5 2023 and drafted forward Alex Letourneau.

• Wilson played 56 games in Brandon before asking for a trade, and the Wheat Kings landed Matteo Michels in return on Nov. 13, 2023.

• Shipley is one of Brandon’s three overagers this season, and has been an offensive force from the blue-line. In 143 games with Brandon, he has 86 points, including 23 goals.

THIS AND THAT

• QUIZ — Brandon has made 11 trades in a single season once since the 2009-10 campaign. Who was the general manager? Can you guess the year or any of the players involved?

• WEEKLY AWARDS — The player of the week is overage Wenatchee Wild forward Evan Friesen of Winnipeg, who led the league with six goals and four assists in four games, including a four-goal effort on Sunday against Tri-City.

The goaltender of the week is 17-year-old Brandonite Burke Hood of the Vancouver Giants, who posted a 3-0-0-0 record, a 1.10 goals-against average, a .965 save percentage and back-to-back shutouts.

The rookie of the week is 16-year-old Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., who had two goals and two assists in four games.

• SIN BIN — Tony Wilson of the Regina Pats is awaiting the length of his suspension after taking a goaltender interference major and game misconduct on Friday against Red Deer. Also, Edmonton Oil Kings forward Marshall Finnie received a one-game suspension for a checking-from-behind major and game misconduct against Calgary on Jan. 1.

• ALUMNI GLANCE — Luka Burzan played in 161 regular season games over two-and-a-half seasons with Brandon, contributing 84 goals and 77 assists. He spent the shortened 2020-21 season in the American Hockey League, but primarily spent the next two-and-a-half seasons in the ECHL before moving to Sweden during the 2023-24 campaign.

With Kalmar HC in the HockeyAllsvenskan — Sweden’s second-best league — he had seven goals and three assists in 21 games. This season, he had an assist in five games with HK Dukla Trencin in Slovakia before moving on to the Odense Bulldogs in Denmark, where he has 12 points in 18 games.

• BIRTHDAY BOYS — Among those celebrating this week are Ethan Eskit (Jan. 7, 2006), Zach Turner (Jan. 7, 2004), Bobby House (Jan. 7, 1973), (Jan. 7, 2000), Jens Meilleur (Jan. 11, 1993), Nolan Flamand (Jan. 12, 2004) and Ivan Provorov (Jan. 13, 1997).

• THE WEEK AHEAD — The trade deadline falls on Thursday and then Portland visits on Friday. The Wheat Kings visit the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. (CT) as they head west to embark on their annual trip through the Western Conference.

• ANSWER — Fans might be surprised to learn that it was Marty Murray in the 2023-24 season who made 11 transactions.

The blockbuster was obviously the Nate Danielson deal with Portland. There were also a pair of successful one-for-one deals with Brandon acquiring Jackson DeSouza for Kayden Sadhra-Kang, and Michels for Wilson.

The Wheat Kings picked up two players for draft picks in separate deals, acquiring Jayden Wiens and defenceman Seth Tansem, who has subsequently been shipped to Wenatchee. (They sent a fourth-round pick in 2025 to Prince Albert for Tansem and acquired a sixth-round pick in 2027 for him.)

The other six deals were all roster-clearing moves for draft picks that involved veterans Evan Groening, Ben Thornton, Dawson Pasternak, Zach Turner, Hayden Chaloner and Logen Hammett.