Brandon, Manitoba – The Brandon Wheat Kings have unveiled their 2012-13 Western Hockey League regular season schedule. The schedule, which was nailed down last week during separate Conference meetings, will kick off on Friday, September 21st with the Wheat Kings playing host to the visiting Regina Pats at Westman Communications Group Place.

Of Brandon’s thirty-six (36) regular season home games, thirteen will be played on Fridays, there will be eleven Saturday night games as well as one Sunday afternoon contest (Remembrance Day) when the Wheat Kings will play host to the Swift Current Broncos. Of the remaining eleven home games, seven will be played on Wenesday nights and there will be four Tuesday night contests, including two against their Eastern Division rivals - the Saskatoon Blades.

After kicking off the regular season at home against the Pats, Brandon will travel to Regina to complete the weekend home and home series the following night. The Wheat Kings will close out the campaign against the Warriors in a season ending home and home series on March 15th and 16th in Moose Jaw and Brandon respectively.

Brandon will play four of its Eastern Division rivals (Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current and Moose Jaw) a total of eight games this year (four at home and four away). The Wheat Kings will face Prince Albert six times (three at home and three away) while playing all Central Division clubs, including the defending champion Edmonton Oil Kings twice at home and twice on the road.

Edmonton’s two trips to Brandon meanwhile will be Friday, February 8th and Friday, March 8th.

Western Manitoba hockey fans will have the opportunity to see the WHL’s five U.S. based Western Conference teams – Everett, Spokane, Seattle, Portland and Tri-Cities – this season, beginning with a game against the Winterhawks on Friday, October 5th.

Some other highlights of this year’s schedule include the following;

    Brandon plays two home games in September; four in October; seven in November; five in December; six in January; eight in February and four during the month of March
    In addition to having to play three games in three nights on four occasions this season, the Wheat Kings will play three games in four nights five times and 4 in five nights once
    Brandon’s annual west coast tour features stops in all B.C. based Western Conference teams, beginning on Saturday, October 20th in Kelowna and wrapping up the following weekend with stops in both Kamloops and Prince George on Friday and Saturday nights respectively
    The west coast road trip also includes stops in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge on the way out, making it a season high 7-game road swing.
    Brandon’s longest home stand is 7 games (Feb. 2nd – Feb. 16th). Wheat Kings also have a 5-game home stand and two 4-gamers
    Wheat Kings will close out their pre-Christmas schedule with a 2-game road trip to Moose Jaw and Prince Albert on Saturday and Sunday, December 15th and 16th
    Brandon will kick off their post-Christmas schedule with a home game against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday, December 28th.
    Brandon will play a New Year’s Eve game in Edmonton against the Oil Kings.


2012-13 WHEAT KINGS’ HOME SCHEDULE:

Friday, September 21st vs. Regina Pats
Wednesday, September 26th vs. Saskatoon Blades
Friday, October 5th vs. Portland Winterhawks
Saturday, October 6th vs. Red Deer Rebels
Friday, October 12th vs. Everett Silvertips
Saturday, October 13th vs. Tri City Americans
Friday, November 2nd vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
Saturday, November 3rd vs. Calgary Hitmen
Tuesday, November 6th vs. Seattle Thunderbirds
Friday, November 9th vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes
Sunday, November 11th vs. Swift Current Broncos
Friday, November 23rd vs. Prince Albert Raiders
Wednesday, November 28th vs. Swift Current Broncos
Friday, December 7th vs. Spokane Chiefs
Saturday, December 8th vs. Red Deer Rebels
Tuesday, December 11th vs. Saskatoon Blades
Friday, December 14th vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
Friday, December 28th vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
Saturday, January 5th vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Tuesday, January 8th vs. Calgary Hitmen
Saturday, January 12th vs. Regina Pats
Friday, January 18th vs. Prince Albert Raiders
Tuesday, January 22nd vs. Saskatoon Blades
Wednesday, January 30th vs. Saskatoon Blades
Saturday, February 2nd vs. Regina Pats
Wednesday, February 6th vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes
Friday, February 8th vs. Edmonton Oil Kings
Saturday, February 9th vs. Regina Pats
Wednesday, February 13th vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Friday, February 15th vs. Kootenay Ice
Saturday, February 16th vs. Kootenay Ice
Wednesday, February 27th vs. Swift Current Broncos
Friday, March 8th vs. Edmonton Oil Kings
Saturday, March 9th vs. Swift Current Broncos
Wednesday, March 13th vs. Prince Albert Raiders
Saturday, March 16th vs. Moose Jaw Warriors

2012-13 WHEAT KINGS' ROAD SCHEDULE:

Sat. Sept. 22nd @ Moose Jaw
Friday, September 28th @ Swift Current
Sat. September 29th @ Moose Jaw
Tuesday, Oct. 16th @ Medicine Hat
Wed. October 17th @ Lethbridge
Sat. October 20th @ Kelowna
Tue. October 23rd @ Victoria Royals
Wed. October 24th @ Vancouver Giants
Friday, Oct. 26th @ Kamloops
Sat. October 27th @ Prince George
Fri. November 16th @ Kootenay Ice
Sat. Nov. 17th @ Kootenay Ice
Sunday, Nov. 18th @ Lethbridge
Sat. Nov. 24th @ Prince Albert Raiders
Tuesday, Nov. 27th @ Swift Current
Sat. December 1st @ Swift Current
Sunday, Dec. 2nd @ Medicine Hat
Sat. December 15th vs. Moose Jaw
Sunday, Dec. 16th vs. Prince Albert
Sunday, Dec. 30th @ Red Deer
Monday, Dec. 31st @ Edmonton
Wed. January 2nd @ Calgary
Sunday, Jan. 6th @ Regina Pats
Friday, Jan. 11th @ Moose Jaw
Saturday, Jan. 19th @ Saskatoon
Friday, Jan. 25th @ Red Deer
Sat. Jan. 26th @ Edmonton
Sunday, Jan. 27th @ Calgary
Friday, Feb. 1st @ Regina Pats
Monday, Feb. 18th @ Saskatoon Blades
Friday, Feb. 22nd @ Saskatoon Blades
Sunday, Feb. 24th @ Swift Current
Friday, March 1st @ Saskatoon
Saturday, March 2nd @ Prince Albert
Sunday, March 3rd @ Regina
Friday, March 15th @ Moose Jaw

         
In other off-ice news, western Manitoba hockey fans are reminded that 2012-13 Wheat Kings’ Season Tickets are now on sale and at $12 per game (40% off regular admission price), the WHL club continues to boast of having the most affordable ticket prices in the entire Canadian Hockey League.

For more information or to order yours be sure to call the Wheat Kings’ office at 726-3535.

Fans wanting to check out the entire 2012-13 WHL schedule can visit the league's official website, located at www.whl.ca