Wheat Kings release new white jersey design
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/08/2017 (2937 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Tanner Kaspick is impressed.
The Brandon Wheat Kings forward modelled the team’s new white jersey for the upcoming season at their annual pre-season media conference on Thursday at Canad Inns.
“I love them,” Kaspick said. “The first time I saw them was earlier today when I went and shot a video on the ice. Especially when it’s with the whole uniform, it’s a really nice looking jersey.”
There will be other jerseys to see this season.
On Oct. 20, the Wheat Kings will wear special Don Cherry jerseys against the Vancouver Giants to help promote organ donation.
They will don Star Wars jerseys against the Kelowna Rockets on Dec. 9, and Canada 150 jerseys on Feb. 9 against the Saskatoon Blades.
But it’s the white ones that caught the eye of Kaspick, who grew up in Brandon watching the Wheat Kings. He said there’s no shortage of nice jerseys in team history.
“There are a lot of good ones,” Kaspick said. “Even our gold thirds that we’ve worn the last couple of years, that’s been one of my favourites. I liked the black ones they wore in the mid-2000s with the wheat going down the arm. But these are definitely in there for the top. They are my favourites now.”
Once again, the Wheat Kings have a number of special events planned as they enter their 51st season in the Western Hockey League.
Fridge magnet giveaway night is on Sept. 29 against the Red Deer Rebels, and an Ivan Provorov bobblehead giveaway is planned for Jan. 12 against the Calgary Hitmen.
Training camp opens on Wednesday morning, with rookies born in 2001 and 2002 taking to the ice. Main camp opens next Friday, with the annual intrasquad on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2 p.m.
General manager Grant Armstrong has put a premium on the team playing fast and moving the puck quickly, and that’s something he wants to see next week at Westman Place.
“I have huge expectations,” Armstrong said. “This is the first time that I basically have the opportunity to kind of set the course in the direction we want from our hockey team.”
The team will have 68 players at its prospect camp, split into four teams. The Wheat Kings will have 23 players born in 2001 — who would be eligible to play their 16-year-old seasons if they happened to make the team — and 45 born in 2002 who are ineligible.
“It’s a nice push of young guys coming here to get a real good camp experience, see the city of Brandon, get recognized for their abilities as hockey players but also have the opportunity to showcase themselves within our organization,” Armstrong said.
Brandon has 18 veterans returning — 11 forwards, six defenceman and one goalie — with seven heading to professional camps.
They are NHL draftees Nolan Patrick (Philadelphia Flyers), Daniel Bukac (Boston Bruins), Stelio Mattheos (Carolina Hurricanes), Tanner Kaspick (St. Louis Blues), and Kale Clague (Los Angeles Kings), along with free agents Ty Lewis (Colorado Avalanche) and Logan Thompson (Vegas Golden Knights).
With camp set to begin soon, real action isn’t far behind.
The Wheat Kings play home-and-home exhibition games against both the Regina Pats and Moose Jaw Warriors, with the Pats visiting on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m., and the Warriors in a week later at 7:30 p.m.
The team opens the regular season at home on Friday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m., when the Regina Pats visit.
Season ticket sales just eclipsed the 2,000 mark, hitting 2,006, the Wheat Kings announced on Thursday.
“That seems to be a benchmark that we take aim at every off-season with hopes that by the start of camp we’re at 2,000,” said Rick Dillabough, director of business operations and sponsorships. “Obviously we’re hoping to be at 2,500 in a month. We have some work to do.”
Season ticket prices, not including GST, are $475 for adults, $425 for seniors, $325 for youth aged 13-17 and $200 for children.
Last season the team drew 145,555 fans in 36 regular season games, an average of 4,043, which was 11th best in the 22-team league.
» pbergson@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @PerryBergson
CAMP
ROOKIE CAMP
Next Wednesday and Thursday
MAIN CAMP
Next Friday and Saturday
INTRASQUAD GAME
Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m
EXHIBITION
Sep. 8 Regina 7:30 p.m.
Sep. 15 Moose Jaw 7:30 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON
Sept. 22 Regina 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 29 Red Deer 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 Swift Current 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 Edmonton 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Prince Albert 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 Prince Albert 4 p.m.
Oct. 20 Vancouver 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 Victoria 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 3 Kootenay 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 Kootenay 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 Saskatoon 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 14 Calgary 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 Swift Current 4 p.m.
Dec. 6 Regina 7 p.m.
Dec. 8 Medicine Hat 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9 Kelowna 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 12 Kamloops 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 Lethbridge 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 27 Regina 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 Moose Jaw 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 Swift Current 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 7 Saskatoon 4 p.m.
Jan. 9 Edmonton 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 Calgary 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 Medicine Hat 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 Prince George 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 Red Deer 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 Regina 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 Saskatoon 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 17 Prince Albert 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 Moose Jaw 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 23 Lethbridge 8 p.m.
March 2 Moose Jaw 7:30 p.m.
March 6 Lethbridge 7 p.m.
March 9 Swift Current 7:30 p.m.
March 13 Saskatoon 7 p.m.
March 17 Moose Jaw 7:30 p.m.
SPECIAL PROMOTIONS
Sept. 29 — Fridge magnet night
Oct. 20 — Don Cherry jerseys
Nov. 11 — Minor Hockey Day
Dec. 9 — Stars Wars jerseys
Dec. 15 — Teddy bear toss
Jan. 12 — Ivan Provorov bobbleheads
Feb. 9 — Canada 150 jerseys
March 17 — Awards night