Kraus, Wheat Kings blank Broncos 4-0

Grayson Burzynski and Luke Mistelbacher each had a goal in their return to Swift Current as the Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Broncos 4-0 in Western Hockey League action at InnovationPlex on Tuesday.

Brandon (22-12-1-0) received its other goals from Joby Baumuller and Jaxon Jacobson in front of an announced crowd of 2,109.

Wheat Kings goalie Jayden Kraus made 23 saves for his second shutout of the season and the team’s second in a row after Filip Ruzicka blanked the Moose Jaw Warriors 3-0 on Sunday.

Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray said his team has come a long ways in their own end.
“The first month of the year was a nightmare,” Murray said. “We were giving up five a night on average and it wasn’t that enjoyable. It was a combination of our guys buying in more defensively — I still think we have a ways to go — and we’ve been getting solid goaltending. Our goalies have been really good throughout the month of December and are a big part of our success.”

A big subplot on Tuesday was Burzynski and Mistelbacher making their first return to the building they played in prior to a blockbuster deal in the summer that brought the overage duo from Swift Current to Brandon.

“I’m sure there was a lot of emotion,” Murray said. “This is where they started their junior hockey journey so coming back into this place there was probably some nerves, even though they might not admit it, and a lot of good memories here. It was nice for them to come in here and contribute in a win as well.”

After a slow start to the game — it took three minutes four seconds for the first shot on net — things began to heat up with the teams playing four-on-four when Brandon’s Carter Klippenstein hit the post on a two-on-one.

Swift Current goalie Archer Cooke, a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drayton Valley Thunder who made his WHL debut, also denied Jordan Gavin on a breakaway and Baumuller on a two-on-one as the visitors gradually began to find their way offensively.

The Wheat Kings opened the scoring with 19.6 seconds left in the first period when Burzynski skated with the puck from the point into the middle of the slot, faked a shot and scored on the backhand.

The visitors made it 2-0 on the game’s first power play 4:33 into the middle frame when Baumuller put a shot from the high slot past a Klippenstein screen.

The Wheat Kings added a second power-play goal 17:44 into the middle frame when Jacobson fired the puck on net, picked up the attempted clear by a Swift Current defenceman and put a bad-angle shot past Cooke.

Brandon made some work for themselves with 5:07 remaining in the third period when they took their second penalty of the game. The Broncos mounted some of their most sustained pressure of the game but the Wheat Kings kept the puck of out their net.

Then, with 2:04 remaining, a Swift Current defender bobbled the puck and Hadland sent a quick pass over to Mistelbacher for his 20th goal of the season. It was Hadland’s third assist of the game.

Prior to the game, Swift Current held its annual Four Broncos ceremony to honour Scott Kruger, Trent Kresse, Brent Ruff and Chris Mantyka, four players who died when the team bus hit black ice and crashed on Dec. 30, 1986 en route to Regina.

Murray said that added another component to the evening.

“It wasn’t perfect by any means but credit to Swift Current, this game every year is obviously an emotional one with the anniversary of the bus crash and it’s a big game for their organization,” Murray said. “We knew they were going to come out hard, and they play hard and work hard. It was a tough schedule with last night in P.A.”

Cooke stopped 33 shots for the Broncos.

Brandon went 2-for-4 on the power play, with Swift Current unsuccessful in two chances.

The Broncos (8-26-1-0) lost their 15th game in a row, last winning in a shootout on Nov. 14. They fell 8-0 to the host Prince Albert Raiders on Monday.

The win was Brandon’s 11th in 12 starts in December.

“You look at some of the travel and how hectic the schedule was and who our opponents were,” Murray said. “It’s just a credit to the kids for battling through. They’ve become a lot closer and a lot tighter knit group here in the last six weeks.

“It’s fun to come to the rink. They want to work for each other. I think we still have a ways to go but we’re certainly trending in the right direction.”
ICINGS: Brandon skated without injured D Merrek Arpin and F Easton Odut, plus healthy scratches F Gunnar Gleasman, F Ryan Boyce, D Max Lavoie … The son of former Wheat Kings great Chris Dingman, Sawyer, was among Swift Current’s scratches due to injury … When Brandon and Swift Current met for the first time on Nov. 5, both clubs were 6-7-1-0. Brandon won 9-4 that night … Baumuller led the Wheat Kings with six shots on net … The game took two hours, 15 minutes to play … The last time Brandon had back-to-back shutouts was when Jiri Patera did it on Jan. 3 and 5, 2020 … In the faceoff circle, Swift Current 28-24 … Brandon hosts the Saskatoon Blades on New Year’s Day at 2 p.m., and then visits Saskatoon on Saturday.
» pbergson@brandonsun.com

TUESDAY

Wheat Kings 4, Broncos 0
First Period
1. Brandon, Burzynski 7 (Hadland) 19:40.
Penalties — Turko Bdn (roughing) 3:05, Gauchier SC (roughing) 3:05.
Second Period
2. Brandon, Baumuller 26 (Pantelas, Hadland) 4:23 (pp).
3. Brandon, Jacobson 11 (Burzynski, Gavin) 17:44 (pp).
Penalties — Pantelakis SC (roughing) 2:46, Boehm Bdn (fighting major) 4:53, Oleskiw SC (fighting major) 4:53, Ronald Bdn (tripping) 5:38, Gauchier SC (hooking) 13:58, Gleasman Bdn (roughing) 17:44, Gray SC (roughing) 17:44, Burch SC (slashing) 17:44.
Third Period
4. Brandon, Mistelbacher 20 (Hadland) 17:56.
Penalties — McGregor SC (cross checking) 5:43, Boehm Bdn (hooking) 14:52.
Shots on goal by
Brandon     12     10     15     —     37
Swift Current     6    9     8     —     23
Goal — Brandon: Kraus (W, 6-7-1-0). Swift Current: Cooke (L, 0-1-0-0).
Power plays (goals-chances) — Brandon: 2-4; Swift Current: 0-1.
Referees — Josh Grimm, Bob Millette.
Linesmen — Tanner Hoffman, Brent Vandermeulen.
Attendance — 2,109 in Swift Current.