Edmundson happy to help out

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This article was published 19/08/2017 (2950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Midget AAA Wheat Kings are going to look a little sharper at home this season, and they have a former player to thank for it.

Joel Edmundson, who now patrols the blue-line for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League, donated 25 white Warrior Hockey helmets to the club last weekend. The team will wear them at the Sportsplex with their white jerseys.

Edmundson, 24, signed a two-year contract with Warrior Hockey to use their equipment in the NHL, and one of the perks is that he gets a certain amount of merchandise from them.

“They said that I could spread some of that merchandise around and help out the AAAs,” Edmundson said. “Originally I wanted to get them gloves or something but I guess the whole league is sponsored. So I got in contact with Bruce Moar with the AAAs and he said the kids have always wanted white helmets to go with white jerseys. I texted the Warrior rep and within a week there were 25 helmets in Brandon.”

Edmundson and his father Bob officially handed them over to head coach Tyson Ramsey and council president Bruce Moar last Sunday.

The retail price on the line of Warrior helmets ranges from about $80 to $200 each. They also came equipped with cages, which are roughly $40 to $80 each.

Ramsey said the donation is an unusual occurrence for the club.

“The last couple of years, the Birt Cup and Scott Hlady have been real good to us supplying us with gloves, but in terms of equipment this is the only donation of equipment that we’ve had,” Ramsey said. “It doesn’t happen very often so when it does it’s certainly greatly appreciated. We’re thankful to Joel for giving back to a program that gave to him. I can’t say enough good things about the Edmundsons and their family. They’re classy people, and it just shows by the generous donation they gave us.”

Edmundson said that he had always hoped to help out the midget squad, adding that they were an important step for him along the way.

“It was huge for me,” Edmundson said. “It was a step before going to the WHL. My coach was Brad Wells, who coached in the WHL, so I tried to take as much from him as I could. The AAA league is a top-notch league and to be able to play there and play with my brother (Jesse) was pretty special.”

Edmundson suited up for the Wheat Kings for two seasons from 2008 to 2010, playing in 85 games. He scored 15 goals, added 43 assists and piled up 112 penalty minutes. He followed that up with three seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Moose Jaw Warriors and Kamloops Blazers, and after two more years with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, made his NHL debut in 2015.

He’s now played 136 NHL regular-season games, scoring four goals, adding 20 assists and earning 123 penalty minutes.

“I just want to give back as much as I can,” Edmundson said. “When I was on the AAAs I would have loved to have two sets of helmets, it would have been pretty cool. I worked out with a bunch of these kids at the gym so I see them every day. I just can’t wait to see what they look like with the whole uniform.”

Edmundson heads back to St. Louis next Thursday, giving him a chance to move into his new apartment and get on the ice prior to the team’s main camp opening on Sept. 14.

Ramsey coached Jesse in minor hockey so he knew Joel’s parents Bob and Lois, but the current midget coach joined the staff seven years ago, just after Joel left. Ramsey is going into his fourth year as head coach.

The midget Wheat Kings begin camp on Sept. 5, with their home opener against the Interlake Lightning on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. It will give them a chance to officially unveil their new look.

“It was certainly a wonderful surprise and certainly greatly appreciated,” Ramsey said. “We can’t thank Joel and the Edmundson family enough for doing that for us.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com

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