Wheat Kings take 2-0 lead on Wild
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/04/2022 (1433 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Following a pair of back-and-forth encounters with the Winnipeg Wild, the Brandon Wheat Kings find themselves one win away from capturing the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League championship.
After prevailing in a 6-5 overtime thriller at home on Friday the Wheat Kings withstood a third period charge by the Wild to escape with a 5-4 triumph at the Bell MTS Iceplex Sunday in Winnipeg.
Brandon had built up a 4-1 lead early in the final frame, only to see Winnipeg rattle off three goals in a minute and 52 seconds stretch to tie things up at four.
“I told the guys on the bench that it was deja-vu,” Wheat Kings head coach Curtis Brolund said. “We kind of let things slip away and we need to learn how to play with a bit of a lead here, but give Winnipeg credit. They battled hard and they didn’t quit.
“Our guys didn’t give up either though. They found a way to get things done there later in the third and we clamped things down to get the win.”
It was underage affiliated forward Cole Temple who scored the deciding goal for the Wheat Kings at the 13:16 mark of the third period.
Temple, who is a potential first round pick in next month’s Western Hockey League draft, led the way on offence on Sunday with a goal and an assist.
“I think the way our team wants to play really meshes with Cole’s game,” Brolund said. “There’s a lot of speed and a lot of skill and he fits in well to the role that he’s playing for us right now.”
Clarke Caswell, Nolan Chastko, Callum Halls and Jeremiah Jacques also scored in the triumph, while Mason Lobreau made 31 saves to improve his record to 8-0 in the playoffs.
While Wild head coach Paul Krueger was pleased with his team’s comeback effort and their improved performance on the power play – they converted on two of five attempts – their slow starts is something he wants to see rectified as they get ready for Game 3.
“We can’t continue to spot them goals and have to battle our way back,” Krueger said. “Brandon is too good of a team to constantly be in that situation.
“If we want to keep this series going, we’re going to have to be a lot better with our overall awareness, but especially when it comes to how we play on defence.”
Cole Younger scored two goals for the Wild on Sunday, with Noah Dziver dishing out a pair of helpers and Keaton Johnson picking up a goal and an assist each.
Tyson Sperber also scored the hosts and Andrew Ness turned aside 22 shots.
A victory in Game 3 – which till take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the J&G Homes Arena – would give the Wheat Kings their second straight league title.
The beat the Wild in 2019, which was the last time the championship series was held before the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the Wild can pick up a road win, the series would head back to Winnipeg for Game 4 next Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
A fifth and deciding game, if necessary, would be held in Brandon at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23.
» lpunkari@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @lpunkari