Brandon, MB. -- A big second period was the difference Friday night as the Moose Jaw Warriors scored a 7-1 victory over the hometown Brandon Wheat Kings in Western Hockey League pre-season action at Westman Communications Group Place.
Leading 1-0 after twenty minutes of play, the Warriors scored four second period goals in less than four minutes to grab a commanding 5-0 lead and never looked back.
Veteran defenceman Travis Brown, who was a fifth round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in last June's National Hockey League Entry Draft, scored twice to pace the winners while 18-year old center Andrew Johnson finished the game with three assists.
Brown was one of three NHL drafted blueliners in Moose Jaw's lineup Friday. Joining him were Morgan Rielly and local product Joel Edmundson. While Reilly was the fifth player chosen overall in this year's draft - by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmundson was selected by St. Louis in the second round of last year's Entry Draft.
Torrin White, Byrson Gore, Brayden Point, Josh Uhrich and Carter Hansen also scored for the Warriors, who outshot Brandon 36-23, including 28-15 through the final forty minutes of play.
Defenceman Eric Roy, one of eight veterans in the Wheat Kings' lineup Friday night, scored in a losing cause for the Wheat Kings, who were forced to kill off eleven minor penalties on the night. Moose Jaw finished the game with two powerplay goals while Brandon went 1 for 6.
Veteran goalkeeper Spencer Tremblay turned aside 22 of 23 Brandon shots in going the distance while the Brandon tandem of Jordan Papirny and Curtis Honey teamed up to stop 29 of 36.
The 1-2-0 Wheat Kings will be hoping to gain a split in the home and home series when they travel to Moose Jaw to close out the pre-season on Saturday night.
Following Saturday's game the Wheat Kings, who currently have thirty-one players on their pre-season roster, will begin preparations for their 2012 Brandon Sun Home Opener on Friday, September 21st against the visiting Regina Pats.
Tickets to the Home Opener are on sale at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at keystonecentre.com
