GAME HUB: Wheat Kings face Blades in must win game

The Wheat Kings head to Saskatoon to close out their season series with the Blades.

Catch the broadcast beginning at 7:45pm CT with puck drop at 8:00pm CST from the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.
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2022/2023  Wheat Kings Regular Season Record:  26-31-8-0 Home: 12-16-5-0 Road: 14-15-3-0

Head Coach: Marty Murray | 18-16-6-0 WHL (Reg Season) games coached |
All-Time Record:  18-16-6-0  | Playoff Record: 0-0

REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (33) – Nate Danielson                                                Assists (44) – Nate Danielson
Points (77) – Nate Danielson                                              PIMS (135) – Matt Henry (Leads WHL)
Plus/Minus (13) – Quinn Mantei                                       Shots (261) – Nolan Ritchie
Wins (21) – Carson Bjarnason                                            Shutouts (3) – Carson Bjarnason
Save % (.899) – Carson Bjarnason                                    Goals Against Average (2.99) – Carson Bjarnason

NEWS & NOTES: 

Last Game: The Wheat Kings ran into a hot goaltender last night with Tikhon Chaika stopping 36 of 49 shots enroute to a 4-3 loss at the hands of the Prince Albert Raiders. It was a game where the Raiders had a 2-0 lead after the first period forcing the Wheat Kings to chase the game. Wheat Kings would get goals from Nate Danielson, Andrei Malyavin and Nolan Ritchie but would run out of time. Wheat Kings blue liners Quinn Mantei, Kayden Sadhra-Kang & Andrei Malyavin all finished the night each with two points. Malyavin earned third star of the game with 1G-1A.

March 18th VS Saskatoon Blades: The Wheat Kings and Blades meet for the 6th and final time this season. Last meeting was on a Sunday afternoon inside the Sasktel Centre where the Wheat Kings would get off to a hot start with Brett Hyland and Nolan Ritchie getting on the board with opening period goals in the first and second to make it 2-0. Blades momentum would swing the other way with Charlie Wright scoring late in the 2nd frame cueing the comeback. In the third it was all Blades scoring a trio of goals including former Wheat King Jake Chiasson scoring what eventually was the game winner. Chiasson would then set up Jordan Keller who drove the net giving the Blades some insurance and the 4-2 victory. Jake Chiasson was named 1st star after a 3 point night. The Wheat Kings are winless in their last 6 attempts against the Blades. The last victory came inside SaskTel Centre back on April 2nd 2022 when the Wheat Kings edged the Blades 2-1. Nate Danielson had 1G-1A in that game. 

Jiri’s Time to Shine: Former Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jiri Patera made his NHL debut with the Vegas Golden Knights last Sunday. Patera made 30 saves in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues to secure his first NHL win on his debut. A sixth-round pick in 2017, Patera became the first goaltender drafted by the Golden Knights to win a game. The 24-year-old played two seasons with the Wheat Kings where he went 46-32-6 with six shutouts, a .913 save percentage and a 2.95 GAA. As a pro, Patera previously played 56 AHL games with Henderson and also suited up 15 times with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets.

Called Up: Wheat Kings Top Prospect Joby Baumuller has been called up and will remain with the Wheat Kings for the rest of the season. The former 12th overall pick, Baumuller finished tied for 4th overall in goal scoring as a 15-year-old in the Saskatchewan U18 AAA Hockey League this year. Baumuller scored his 1st career WHL goal in a 10-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings last Saturday night. Then Baumuller added another Wednesday versus the Regina Pats in front of his Notre Dame teammates. Baumuller grew up just outside of Regina in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. 

Who’s Hot: Zakhar Polshakov is on a 6 game point streak. Brett Hyland currently has 19 goals scored in his last 21 games. Forward Nate Danielson has been stellar as of late scoring 18 points in his last 15 games. Nolan Ritchie has 9 points in his last 6 games. Dawson Pasternak has 9 points in his last 9. Pasternak’s 7 game point streak was snapped in Winnipeg Sunday.

WHEAT KINGS VS BLADES SCHEDULE

Oct. 7 Saskatoon 5 at Brandon 3 Final       LOSS

Nov. 5 Saskatoon 4 at Brandon 1 Final           LOSS

Dec. 6 Brandon 4 at Saskatoon 5 Final OT       LOSS(OT)

Jan. 31 Saskatoon 3 at Brandon 2 Final OT       LOSS(OT)

Feb. 5 Brandon 2  at Saskatoon 4   Final      LOSS

Mar. 18 Brandon at Saskatoon 7:00 pm CDT

NOTABLE INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATS

Carson Bjarnason: 3rd in the WHL in shutouts (3)

Matthew Henry: 1st in the WHL with 135 PIMS