KOCH MINOR HOCKEY DAY FRIDAY
Brandon, MB. — The Western Hockey League’s Wheat Kings, in association with Koch Fertilizer Canada have unveiled plans to present an unofficial kick-off to the 2014-15 Manitoba Minor Hockey season Friday night when the Seattle Thunderbirds pay their first visit to Westman Place in two years.
In recognition of the new season, Koch Fertilizer Canada has purchased blocks of tickets so that close to thirty teams will have the opportunity to travel to Brandon for the traditional minor hockey kick-off game, scheduled to get underway at 7:30pm.
The annual minor hockey day, which has been held for the past thirty years on Remembrance Day, was moved this season in order for Brandon and Westman Place to play host to game two of the 2014 SUBWAY SUPER SERIES. Close to 4,800 fans turned out on Tuesday to see Team Russia edge Team WHL 3-2.
Among the communities planning to be represented at Friday night’s game, which will feature a ceremonial opening face-off, include Treherne, Souris, Boissevain, Carberry, Minnedosa, Hamiota, Tri-Town (Rivers, Cardale and Oak River), Shoal Lake, Birtle, Brandon, Killarney, Melita and Neepawa.
As well, Virden’s two Tim Bits teams will face off against one another during the first intermission.
On the ice, the Wheat Kings will be hoping to run their season high win streak to seven games on Friday after sweeping a 2-game home stand last weekend. Brandon is currently 16-3-1 on the season and sit four points up on the second place Medicine Hat Tigers – who will be in town to take on the Wheat Kings on Saturday night – in the Eastern Conference.
As for Seattle, the TBirds are tied with Spokane for seventh in the Western Conference with a record of 8-8-2-1. Friday’s game will the Seattle’s fourth stop on this week’s 6-game Eastern road trip. After opening up the trip with a win over the Raiders in Prince Albert, the Thunderbirds have dropped back to back games in Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.
While Brandon welcomes back rookies Nolan Patrick, Kale Clague and Tanner Kaspick from the World U17 Challenge Cup this weekend, Seattle enters the weekend minus at least two veterans.
Defenceman Evan Wardley has been hit with a 5-game suspension from the WHL for receiving a checking from behind major and game misconduct in last weekend’s game against the Blades. The club’s leading scorer Mathew Barzal meanwhile is currently out with a lower body injury. In sixteen games this season, he has seven goals and 18 points.
Seattle won the only meeting of the 2013-14 season between the two clubs but over the course of the last five years, the Wheat Kings are 3-1-0 vs. the TBirds.
Tickets to both Friday and Saturday night games are on sale now at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or by ordering online at keystonecentre.com
In other Wheat King news, the WHL club has announced that the special military theme jersey to be worn by center John Quenneville during Saturday’s Military Appreciation Night vs Medicine Hat will go on the auction block Friday morning from 6-10am on 94.7 Star FM. In twelve games this season, the 18-year old center and New Jersey Devils first round draft choice, has six goals and 16 points. His jersey becomes the second military theme jersey to be auctioned off on the radio this month. Two weeks ago, Quintin Lisoway’s #28 went for $1,400 during CKLQ’s play by play broadcast from Medicine Hat.
All remaining jerseys will be auctioned off during Saturday’s game, with proceeds going to the United Way of Brandon and District Community Fund, which benefits military familes.
ABOUT KOCH FERTILIZER CANADA: Koch Fertilizer, LLC, and its subsidiaries are collectively one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of fertilizers. The company owns or has interests in fertilizer plants in the United States, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago. Its distribution network covers global demand through state-of-the-art terminals in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, France and the United Kingdom.
