Wheat Kings prepare for new challenge
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The Penticton Vees may be an expansion club on their first road swing to the other side of the Western Hockey League, but the Brandon Wheat Kings underestimate them at their peril.
The B.C. Division leaders (35-11-4-4), who are fourth overall in the league, have been one of the good news stories in the WHL this season after moving over from the BCHL. Brandon assistant coach Del Pedrick certainly knows his club (32-22-1-0) will have to be at its best.
“They’re an old team,” Pedrick said. “They have four 20-year-olds and something like six 19s. They play hard and heavy, so that’s what we tried to focus on (Thursday at practice) was good habits, because hard and heavy is not a good recipe for slow and soft.”
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Chase Surkan, shown after practice at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on Thursday afternoon, is set to make his return to the lineup tonight against the P. He missed 15 games after suffering a lower-body injury on Jan. 13 during a game in Prince Albert. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Penticton kicks off its East Division swing tonight, followed by visits to the Regina Pats (Saturday), Swift Current Broncos (Tuesday), Saskatoon Blades (Wednesday), Prince Albert Raiders (Friday), and Moose Jaw Warriors (Saturday).
Both teams come in hot, with the Wheat Kings on a four-game winning streak and the Vees 4-0-0-1 in their last five.
“The biggest thing is they’re strong on pucks, and they’re pretty relentless,” Pedrick said of the Vees. “They don’t give up easily. We’re going to have to keep our shifts short and make sure we match that intensity.”
Penticton last played on Monday when it beat the visiting Prince George Cougars 3-0 in a game that saw a goalie fight between Brandonite Ethan McCallum and Prince George’s Joshua Ravensbergen late in the third period at centre ice. Both got a fighting major and game misconduct.
Their next home game is on March 6 when the Wenatchee Wild visit.
Meanwhile, Brandon edged the Saskatoon Blades 4-3 on Monday afternoon to earn their fourth one-goal decision in a row. They have two more top clubs coming in next, with the Edmonton Oil Kings visiting on Saturday and Prince George on Tuesday.
“I think it’s simplicity and short shifts,” Pedrick said of the path to success. “Physically we’ve matched up very well in the last few weeks, and we have a tall task ahead of us. If we can just keep our minds fresh and mentally refreshed instead of minute shifts, that’s when the mind starts to go and mistakes happen.”
The battered Wheat Kings finally received some good news on the injury front, with 16-year-old forward Chase Surkan making his way back into the lineup after missing 15 games with a lower-body injury.
The five-foot-seven, 167-pound winger from Regina has enjoyed a sensational rookie campaign with 18 goals and 16 assists in 34 games.
“I’ve been wanting to be back for a while now,” Surkan said. “I kind of had a setback in practice and then worked my way to being as healthy as I can.”
“You want to be out there with the guys and compete with them,” he added. “I’m trying to do everything in my power to support them in the stands and in the room.”
Defenceman Dylan Ronald fully participated in practice and is also close to a return, while team captain Caleb Hadland and high-scoring forward Joby Baumuller watched from the bench. Meanwhile, the season is officially over for injured defenceman Merrek Arpin and forwards Carter Klippenstein and Easton Odut.
“We’re getting close,” Pedrick said of Surkan and Ronald. “They’ve worked hard, and it’s been a long time. When they return is when they return. “We’re trying to keep our group moving in the right direction and if we can add them along the way, that will add some depth for us and hopefully some more legs.”
Brandon is 7-3-0-0 against Western Conference opponents this season, with a 3-3 record on the road against the U.S. Division teams and a perfect 4-0 at home mark against the B.C. Division, beating the Vancouver Giants 4-3 on Oct. 10, the Kamloops Blazers 6-3 on Oct. 16, the Kelowna Rockets 6-3 on Dec. 12 and the Victoria Royals 6-1 on Jan. 16. Their final Western Conference game is next Tuesday when Prince George visits.
But first they have to deal with the Vees.
“We don’t know too much about them, so we’ll have to watch some video,” Surkan said. “It will be cool to play these guys for the first time.”
The puck drops this evening at 7 at Assiniboine Credit Union Place.
ICINGS: Brandon defenceman Gio Pantelas had a goal as his Team East beat Team West 5-4 in overtime in the WHL prospects game on Wednesday in Langley, B.C. Prince Albert defenceman Daxon Rudolph scored the winner 14 seconds into overtime on a partial breakaway. Carson Carels of Cypress River assisted all four goals for Team East.
» pbergson@brandonsun.com