Mcnish, U15 AA Wheaties rolling into TOC

All aboard the Brandon Wheat Kings train.

Make it 32 consecutive games Brandon’s U15 AA squad has now gone without a regulation loss as it continues to steam roll through its competition with ease — and it doesn’t plan on stopping tonight.

The Wheat Kings enter the annual Tournament of Champions — which originated in 1970 — with 22 wins, two extra time losses and two ties in the Winnipeg U15 AA League, as they currently sit atop of the standings thanks to a seven game winning streak, with their last defeat coming more than a month ago following a 5-4 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Thrashers Blue (23-1) at Flynn Arena on Jan. 11.

Brandon begins its TOC action this evening in Pool D with a round-robin game against the Pembina Central Flyers at Flynn Arena (8:15 p.m.), followed by a match against the Estevan Bruins on Friday at Enns Brothers Arena (6:30 p.m.). In other U15 TOC action today, the Regina Buffalos host the Minot Wolves at Enns Brothers Arena (6:30 p.m.), the Eastman Northern Knights face the Moose Jaw Warriors at Flynn Arena (6:30 p.m.), and the Prairie Storm Thunder host the Watford City Oilers.

The rest of the Wheat Kings schedule depends on the results of their two games, but if one thing is for certain, it’s they haven’t let their riches this season get the best of them.

“We’ve been getting even stronger and we’re working just as hard,” said rookie forward Brody Mcnish. “The team’s obviously been really good and it’s been lots of fun too, playing with lots of friends on the team, so we’re just gonna keep going and trying to do even better.”

Mcnish has lead Brandon offensively this entire season with 37 goals and 72 points, and is also no stranger to putting up big numbers in tournament action. He racked up 15 of his 72 points in Saskatchewan, where he helped his club to a championship at the 32-team Regina Western Cycle Tournament in December after it topped the Saskatoon Terriers 5-1 in the final — putting the cherry on top of a perfect 6-0 run in the tournament.

“It was good and we worked really hard and brought it home,” Mcnish said. “The Saskatchewan teams are really big and they have lots of skill, but we did good against them and won, so it was lots of fun.”

Mcnish has missed Brandon’s last three games with a back injury, but head coach Tim Lang said he’ll draw back in the lineup against the Flyers. And no duo in that locker room will be happier with the nexts than fellow first year forwards Emmitt Bell and Ari Lang, who’ve played alongside Mcnish’s wings for most of the year. The trio has consistently produced at a high level and is a large reason why their team has the highest goals for in the league with 135.

Mcnish said although they’re a young line, they still have the chemistry thanks to years of playing hockey and baseball together.

“We’re all minors, so it’s usually harder, but we’ve been together lots and they’re some of my best friends, so it’s been fun,” he said. “We can communicate lots and talk over different plays, and we just work hard together.”

Mcnish, Bell, and Lang are three of nine players born in 2012, so a majority of the team is still in their first year of full contact. But it hasn’t seemed to be a glaring issue on the ice, especially for Mcnish, who’s been able to stay creative offensively, while also playing a two-way game that’s shut down the other team’s best players. He takes just as much pride in his own end just like the rest of his teammates, and it’s seen on the stat sheet as Brandon has the second fewest goals allowed in the league with 46 — behind only the Thrashers Blues who have 34.

Following the TOC this weekend, the Wheaties will wrap up the regular season with a pair of games on Feb. 21 and 22 when it hosts the Wild Gold (9-12-1-2) and Bruins Black (7-15-1-1). With the post-season looming, Mcnish can’t help, but think about his team’s chances.

“I’m really excited,” Mcnish said. “Playoffs are really exciting, some of the best times of the year and we have a good team, so we should be hard to beat in playoffs.”

Last year, Mcnish and his U13 club took home the league championship after losing only one game the entire season. It’s practically a carbon copy of how this year’s team has performed, so he’s hoping that means it will be the same ending, but only time will tell.

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com