McQueen finding his way back

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This article was published 12/03/2025 (239 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Roger McQueen admits last week wasn’t the easiest of his Western Hockey League career.

The 18-year-old forward from Saskatoon jumped back into the Brandon Wheat Kings lineup last week after a nearly five-month absence due to a bad back and promptly played in three games in four nights during a trip to Alberta. He then sat out the final game on Sunday as a precautionary measure.

“I was really, really sore,” McQueen said. “I just sort of jumped into the fire after not playing so many games so I figured I was going to be pretty worn out.

“By the end of the first I was pretty worn out. The second game was tough too.”

The six-foot-five, 193-pound forward had eight goals and three assists in eight games as he played through a pars fracture in his back early in the season, the same injury that kept him out for over a month at the tail end of last season.

He had an assist and 19 penalty minutes in the three games in Alberta, with 15 of the penalty minutes coming on an ill-advised hit against the Red Deer Rebels that saw him get tossed out of the game.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray noted McQueen wasn’t able to exercise during part of his recovery, so he’ll have to get back into shape.

“I think you have to manage your expectations,” Murray said. “The poor kid has been off for five months and hasn’t been able to do anything so his timing, his conditioning, there’s rust in his game.

“We hope he gets better every day but I thought he was fine. You noticed his conditioning take its toll here and there but it was great to have him back. Hopefully he can stay in the lineup.”

The news isn’t quite so good elsewhere.

Jaxon Jacobson, who sat out practice on Tuesday after re-aggravating a lower-body injury during the trip, was sitting beside Easton Odut, whose season could be over with an upper-body injury.

Defenceman Merrek Arpin did some skating after practice, while forward Ben Binder Nord was on the ice during practice in a red no-hit jersey but working on his own.

But the big news has been the return of McQueen, who is considered a likely top-10 pick in the upcoming National Hockey League draft.

“Everything was at half notch,” McQueen said. “It takes a little bit to get back, especially after missing almost a full year. It will be a bit but it should be soon. Hopefully I’ll be rolling on all cylinders soon.”

While the Wheat Kings obviously wanted him back for the playoffs, it will also be a boon to have McQueen in the lineup tonight against the Saskatoon Blades, the team he grew up watching.

In the East Division playoff race, just one point separates the Prince Albert Raiders (36-22-5-1, 74 points, six games remaining), Saskatoon (33-21-3-4, 73 points, seven games remaining) and Brandon (33-22-4-3, 73 points, six games remaining).

Whoever wins the division title will get the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

McQueen will be ready tonight.

“Especially against my hometown team,” McQueen said. “It’s one of the biggest games of the year. We definitely need this badly for that second seed in our conference. It’s a game you have to get up for.”

Saskatoon has won both games in Brandon this season in overtime, with a 4-3 victory on Oct. 25 and a 3-2 win on Feb. 7. The Blades return next Wednesday for their final regular season matchup.

In Saskatoon, the Blades won 4-3 on Sept. 28, and the Wheat Kings subsequently earned a 4-2 decision on Dec. 15, a 6-2 victory on Jan. 3 and a 6-3 win on Feb. 17.

Murray echoed McQueen’s words, noting the Blades beat the Raiders in a pair of games on the weekend to tighten up the standings.

“We’re looking at it like it’s the biggest game of the year, and that’s the way we have to approach it,” Murray said. “They obviously had a couple of real big ones against P.A., last weekend, and their goal will be the same as ours, to try and win the division. It will be a pretty intense game and we have to play with controlled emotion. I think coming out of the gate will be important for us in the first period.”

It’s worth noting the game starts at 6 o’clock instead of 7 at Westoba Place, with an NHL legends game featuring Wheat Kings great Brian Propp taking place immediately after.

Three other former Wheat Kings who played in the NHL — Jeff Odgers, Michael Ferland and Colby Robak — are also taking part — along with Brandonite Ryan White.

Other players who have been confirmed for the event include Bernie Nicholls, Kevin Stevens, Cliff Ronning, Duane Sutter, Dave Ellett, Billy Smith, Colton Orr, Mathew Barnaby, Dale Weise and Ryan Garbutt.

“It’s pretty cool,” Murray said. “Our guys are probably young enough that they probably have to go spend some time on the Internet but it’s pretty neat to have those guys in house. Obviously with some of the ex-Wheat Kings being here, our guys are in the gym every day and on the walls you see the names, so it will be good to put a face on those guys.”

After the players cool down from their own game, it’s expected many will come back to watch the NHL legends.

“That’s going to be unbelievable,” McQueen said. “I’m sure all of us will stay after to watch that. It will be a cool day to see the all-time greats play, especially Brian Propp and Bryan Trottier. That will be awesome to watch. I’m sure it will be exciting for the fans to see too.”

NEW FACE

With their chronic injury woes this season mounting again, the Wheat Kings brought in signed 16-year-old prospect Isaac Davies, who made his WHL debut in Red Deer last Tuesday.

The six-foot, 170-pound forward from Carstairs, Alta., 48 kilometres north of Calgary, spent the season in the Alberta Elite Hockey League with the Airdrie CFR Bisons U18 AAA.

They were swept by the Calgary Cannex Buffaloes in the best-of-five quarterfinals, with all three games going to overtime. The series ended on March 2.

“I thought it was a pretty good season,” Davies said. “I’m really close to those boys back home. We have a family there. We could have gone a little further but things happen and it ended a little short.”

In 36 games, Davies had eight goals, 15 assists and 45 penalty minutes. He received the call up shortly after his season ended.

“I was pretty excited,” Davies said. “To play that first WHL game is just a great time.”

He had one shot on goal and was +1 during trip as he tried to find his way in major junior. Davies said the willingness and ability of WHL players to compete really stood out for him.

“The time and the effort these guys put in day in and day out,” Davies said. “I look up to these boys. Next year hopefully I’m on this roster. I’m looking forward to it.”

Murray said Davies made a great first impression.

“We’ve been happy with what he brought to the table,” Murray said. “He’s taken big strides from a year ago when we brought him in as a 15-year-old to practise with us a little bit. He was kind of a deer in the headlights, but I thought he played to his strengths to the games he played with his skating ability and he brought some physicality to us too.

“Bringing in young kids like that is a great learning experience, and to have him get game action too will hopefully expedite his development.”

He won’t be the only member of the 2023 draft class earning a call up. Defenceman Cam Allard will also be rejoining the team after his Estevan Bears lost their best-of-five Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League quarterfinal series in five games to the Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors.

The series ended on Monday, so Allard’s return will allow Brandon to dress six defencemen again with Slovakian defenceman Adam Belusko still home tending to academic requirements.

While Allard has already played nine games and made his home debut, it will be a new experience for Davies.

“I’m so excited,” Davies said. “The fans here are incredible so it’s going to be a good game.”

ICINGS: On Monday, Prince Albert fired coach Jeff Truitt, who has coached in the league for more than 30 years. He will be replaced by interim head coach Ryan McDonald … In other Raiders news, captain Justice Christensen has committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha … There is just one playoff spot remaining in the Eastern Conference and the Swift Current Broncos can lock it down with a win or a Red Deer loss. The Seattle Thunderbirds are three points up on the Wenatchee Wild for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference. Both teams have six games remaining.

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