Photo by Brandi Crowe
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – Connor Gutenberg saved his best for last, scoring once and adding three assists for a four point night as the Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Regina Pats 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night.
You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the hockey game for the Wheat Kings who opened the scoring before the popcorn finished popping on the concourse.
Braydyn Chizen, fresh off receiving his 20-year-old plaque from GM Grant Armstrong in the pre-game ceremony walked in and undressed Max Paddock for his 3rd of the season just 0:19 into the period.
Moments later, Linden McCorrister finished off a beautiful short-handed give and go with Connor Gutenberg to put Brandon up 2-0. McCorrister’s 4th shorthanded marker of the season leads all Wheat Kings in that category.
Regina would put a stop to the momentum just over a minute later. After Ethan Kruger robbed Brett Clayton, a mad scramble ensued in the Brandon crease. Carter Massier found the loose puck and beat Kruger to cut the lead to one.
Kruger, who was making his first start in 16 games made 34 saves on the night while Brandon’s Max Paddock kicked aside 38 in his final game in his hometown this season.
In the 2nd, Brandon jumped back out to a two-goal lead off the stick of Connor Gutenberg. The Brandon native snapped home his 16th of the year for his 3rd point of the night midway through the 2nd.
Late in the period, a defensive miscue saw Ty Kolle left alone in front and the former Lethbridge Hurricane made no mistake, burying his 15th of the season past Kruger to cut the lead to one heading to the third.
Early in the third, the Pats would crack the code on the powerplay as Ty Kolle added his 2nd of the night, tying the game at three.
Ben McCartney and Austin Pratt would exchange third-period goals setting up overtime.
The two clubs combined for fourteen shots in the extra frame but neither team could find the back of the next to grab the victory.
In the shootout, it took ten shooters but finally, it was Luka Burzan finding a hole in Max Paddock to send the crowd of 4,909 home with a smile on their face despite the lack of playoff hockey on the horizon.
Both Linden McCorrister and Braydyn Chizen played their final games in a Wheat King uniform tonight. McCorrister has played in 174 regular season games over four seasons, winning a championship in 2015/16. He reached a career-high 20 goals and 43 points last season. Chizen, a deadline acquisition played in 26 games with the club tonight. He has scored once and added six assists since arriving in Brandon from Kelowna.
As we wrap up another season of Brandon Wheat Kings Hockey on QCountry Radio / CKLQ AM, there are a ton of people that don’t get enough credit for the tremendous amount of hard work that goes into bringing you the fans a hockey broadcast 68 times a year.
Special Thanks to….
QCountry Management:
-Cam Clark
-Steve Antaya
-Scott DeMotigny
QCountry Sales Staff:
-Ryan Osuder
-Ken Shumay
-Brit Long
-David Simard
-Brennen Gasmo
Production Staff / Board Operators:
-Corey Morrish
-Teddi Garvey
-Corey Bright
-Raul Caro
-Wayne Kozak
-Ally Mitchell
On-Air Analysts/Colour :
-Peter Gerlinger
-Perry Bergson (Brandon Sun)
Brandon Wheat Kings Off Season Important Dates
Bantam Draft in Red Deer – May 2nd.
Prospects Camp – May 24-26th
SCORING SUMMARY vs REGINA
1st PERIOD
BWK – Braydyn Chizen (3) (Gutenberg) 0:19
BWK – Linden McCorrister (14) (Gutenberg) 5:48 SHG
REG – Carter Massier (5) (Clayton, Sedov) 6:40
Shots: 15-7 Regina
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Connor Gutenberg (16) (McCartney, Greig) 11:45
REG – Ty Kolle (15) (Evans, Streau) 17:33
Shots: 13-7 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
REG – Ty Kolle (16) (Alkhimov, Evans) 4:41 PPG
BWK – Ben McCartney (21) (Gutenberg, Schneider) 12:34 SHG
REG – Austin Pratt (25) (Kolle, Streau) 16:30
Shots: 15-9 Brandon
OVERTIME
No Scoring
Shots: 7-7
SHOOTOUT
REG – Kolle | GOAL
BWK – McCartney | No Goal
REG – Alkhimov | No Goal
BWK – Stelio Mattheos | GOAL
REG – Pratt | No Goal
BWK – Gutenberg | No Goal
REG – Streau | No Goal
BWK – Greig | No Goal
REG – Wright | No Goal
BWK – Burzan | GOAL