Nguyen eager to tangle with old buddies

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This article was published 09/01/2025 (252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Marcus Nguyen has been excited about tonight’s game for about seven months.

The overage Brandon Wheat Kings forward came to Manitoba in a deal on June 5, 2024 that saw 16-year-old prospect Reed Brown of Tempe, Ariz., head to the Portland Winterhawks.

The teams tangle for the first time since in Western Hockey League action tonight at Westoba Place. The puck drops at 7.

“Ever since I got traded in the summer, it’s been a game that’s been circled on the calendar,” the Calgary product Nguyen said. “Whenever you play your old team, it’s always fun and always exciting. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since the schedule got announced. I think it should be a good one. I’ll see some familiar faces.”

Brandon (19-11-3-2) has certainly liked its side of the deal, with Nguyen leading the Wheat Kings in goals with 20, points with 38 and shots on goal with 116. Portland (21-14-2-1), meanwhile, has a fine young player in Brown, who has four goals and five assists in 38 games as a rookie.

Barring an unlikely matchup in the league final, it will be the final WHL game back in Manitoba for overage defenceman Ryder Thompson of Russell, and the first trip home for 18-year-old rookie defenceman Cole Slobodian of Brandon.

Needless to say, Nguyen would be happy to steal two points from them.

“I think that’s the goal,” Nguyen said. “It’s a game against Portland but one of just two home games this month so it’s starting off on the right track and getting this road trip going. Obviously it’s at home, but you want to leave a good taste in your mouth when you finish at home in front of your fans.”

Neither team has played since last Saturday, with Brandon beating the Prince Albert Raiders 5-3 and Portland falling 6-3 to the Wenatchee Wild.

While Nguyen hasn’t seen the Winterhawks in person this season, he has a pretty good idea of what to expect.

“Everyone knows Portland hockey when they see it,” Nguyen said. “It’s in the transition. All the players like to play the game fast, they think the game fast, they have a lot of skill.

“They have a lot of D-men who can jump up the ice and turn a three-on-two into a four-on-two and open up an option. Our back check is going to be key, managing pucks in their zone and not turning them over is going to be key because that’s what good teams feed off of. It’s a good team on the other side.”

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray agreed.

“They’re a really highly skilled team,” Murray said. “Their transition game is one of the best if not the best in the league and they can score. We have to pay attention, especially to their top six guys and they have a couple of D who can really get involved in the play as well. They will be a handful. They really play with pace, and we’ll have to be ready to skate.”

One difference from Nguyen’s time in Oregon is that former Brandon University Bobcats player Mike Johnston is no longer the head coach after 13 seasons behind the bench. Johnston remains as president and general manager, but his veteran assistant and associate coach Kyle Gustafson slid into the top job.

In Portland’s last game in Brandon, Quinn Mantei scored the winner in a 3-2 Wheat Kings victory on Jan. 6, 2023.

Last season, however, Portland pounded Brandon 11-1 at home on Oct. 18, 2023, with Nguyen earning a pair of assists against his future club.

Murray chuckled when asked if that might be mentioned to his team.

“It will be,” Murray said. “Last year in Portland it was 11-1. I think my last two trips into Portland as a player were 10-1 and 11-1 so it’s maybe it’s nice we have a break and don’t go there this year. I think we played them here two years and came out in a tight one.

“In general, the focus is getting back to playing well on home ice. I think we’ve lost three in a row, one of them in s shootout, but we want to be a good team at home and hopefully have a good effort before we head out on the B.C. trip.”

Overall, the Wheat Kings are 10-5-3-2 at home and 9-6-0-0 on the road.

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, which this year focuses on the B.C. Division but includes a bonus U.S. Division game.

They visit the Victoria Royals on Wednesday at 9:05 p.m. (all times CST), the Everett Silvertips on Friday at 9:05 p.m., the Vancouver Giants on Sunday at 4 p.m., the Kelowna Rockets on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 9:05 p.m., the Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 9 p.m., and finish up 1,902 kilometres from Brandon against the Prince George Cougars on Friday, Jan. 24.

Their next home game is on Jan. 29 when the Red Deer Rebels visit.

The Wheat Kings are getting close to healthy, with goalie Ethan Eskit and rookie forward Ben Binder Nord full participants in practice. Joby Baumuller was also on the ice but wearing a red non-contact jersey.

The other injured forwards, Roger McQueen and Easton Odut, both remain out indefinitely.

The Wheat Kings also had their two new faces at practice, with forward Jordan Gavin and defenceman Merrek Arpin arriving in Manitoba on Wednesday evening after catching flights. The two were acquired from the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday for defenceman Charlie Elick and a third-round pick in 2026.

ICINGS: Overage forward Austin Roest is bring returned to the Everett Silvertips by the Nashville Predators after he completes rehabilitation from an injury he suffered in September. He had 71 points in 61 games last season … Overage Medicine Hat Tigers forward Mathew Ward has committed to Northern Michigan University for next season.

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