For the first time since April of 2022, Westoba Place will host playoff action this week, and the Brandon Wheat Kings are eager to get back on home ice and put on a show for their fans.
Two hard-fought battles of increasing intensity saw the Wheat Kings drop both games of their first-round series against the Moose Jaw Warriors, the latest by a 5-4 count in overtime. But the saying goes you’re not really in trouble until you lose at home, and the next two games are in familiar environs for the boys in Black and Gold.
“We’re really excited (to be back home),” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “We played well at home all winter long, and hopefully we can continue that trend to climb back into the series.”
In some ways, the closeness of the first two games made them all the more frustrating. Since the first period of game one (after which they trailed 3-0) the Wheat Kings tied the next five periods against Moose Jaw before surrendering the overtime winner in game two.
“The most worrisome part of our series so far was the first ten minutes of game one,” Murray said. “I thought we’ve settled in and it’s been a pretty good series back and forth as far as goals, chances, zone time, and stuff like that. We’ve gained some confidence. Obviously last game was a stinger, it was right there for us to come back with a split and we let it slip away, but I think we have confidence.”
Through those two games in Moose Jaw, the Wheat Kings got three goals from Roger McQueen, including a snipe off the rush in game two that could earn a spot on the highlight reels. Making McQueen’s playoff debut all the more impressive is that he missed the final 15 games of the regular season and was thrown right into the fire against a talented Warriors side.
“He was off the ice for about a month so for him to come right back in and be an impact player right away is quite impressive,” said Murray. “Rog is an important piece of the puzzle for us. It’s nice that he’s really firing on all cylinders right now.”
McQueen has discovered a sense of the moment, and with a lot of other players getting their first taste of playoff action, the question is who else might turn out to be a clutch player for them?
“We’re looking for everyone to chip in,” Murray said. “You never know when that big play is going to happen and the puck is going to be on your stick at the opportune time and you’ve got to be ready to capitalize when it does. We feel like we have a number of players who can be game-changers in that regard.”
Games three and four will begin at 7:00 pm at Westoba Place.
(Article courtesy of the Brandon Wheat Kings)
