Ok, everyone take a deep breath.
The first losing streak (two is technically a streak) of the season has finally befallen the Brandon Wheat Kings after dropping back-to-back games on home ice. With the team picking up just three points on their three-game homestand, and now heading on the road to face a formidable duo in the Medicine Hat Tigers and Lethbridge Hurricanes, there’s not as much optimism around the team right now as their was after opening weekend. But that’s part of the beast that is junior hockey.
Seasons have highs and lows, and really, if this is a low, it’s going to be an absolutely wonderful season in Wheat City. Two losses in a row, dropping the team to a 4-2-1 record, isn’t exactly the end of the world.
That said, the game against the Everett Silvertips was a measuring stick game according to head coach and GM Marty Murray, and they found out their effort level and execution both need to elevate if they’re going to measure up. They had the effort (and the lead) through 20 minutes, but from there the Silvertips pulled away.
The weekend ahead will have some measuring sticks too. Despite their tough start, Medicine Hat is loaded with NHL talent and remains a favorite in both the Eastern Conference and the entire league. Lethbridge, meanwhile, is 4-1 entering this week and comes with a ton of returning players, and have freshly added to their forward depth with the acquisition of Shane Smith.
The Wheat Kings have an opportunity to get back on track this weekend, but their opponents won’t make it easy. Whatever has been missing from their mixture lately, they’ll need to find it by Friday night.
- The two losses in a row aren’t great, obviously, but going back four straight games now the Wheat Kings haven’t really been happy with their effort, even in the game they won over the Edmonton Oil Kings. You’ve got to go back to the victory over the Prince Albert Raiders to find the last game the team was really content with, a game they approached with playoff-style intensity and heavy physical play. For all the talk about this team’s skill (and it’s there, no question) it’s becoming more and more obvious they’re at their best when they’re playing heavy hockey.
- A lot of Wheat Kings have been playing that way throughout the season, but the biggest change has come from captain Quinn Mantei. He went from being quietly physical last season for the most part to throwing one or two heavy, nasty bodychecks per game. He’s got the hit of the year so far and seems to be trying to one-up himself every game out. It’s not a new part of his game, but it’s one that’s shining through more this season and it’s been fun to see him grow as a player in that sense.
- A lot of point streaks came to an end against Everett, including Roger McQueen’s season-long streak at six games. He still co-leads the league in goals as of this writing, but his line with Marcus Nguyen and Dominik Petr was held off the board against Everett. Look for them to come out eager to get back to their scoring ways against Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.
- A strange stat (my favorite kind): the Wheat Kings were a combined 4-4 on the season last year against the Tigers and Hurricanes. Against the Tigers, they went 0-4. Against the Hurricanes, they went 4-0. An even stranger stat? Every last one of the Wheat Kings’ three shutouts last year (two for Carson Bjarnason and one for Ethan Eskit) came against Lethbridge. The Hurricanes scored only one goal against the Wheat Kings in four games during the season series. Expect that to be bulletin board material for Lethbridge, however, who were not far behind the Wheat Kings in the standings last season and will not take kindly to having been swept.
- I always say one of the little pleasures of this job is watching players score their first WHL goals. Congratulations to Ben Binder Nord on his first in the WHL last night against the Everett Silvertips. Ben plays with his nose to the grindstone, and is one guy you will never worry about being outworked. So, if you picture the kind of goal he might score for his first, you’re likely picturing one very similar to the one he eventually got. He went to the net, caused some problems, provided a screen, and deflected home his first in the WHL. It’s an old and simple recipe for offense, but it’s popular for a reason, and Marty Murray said the rest of the Wheat Kings should’ve done the same throughout the contest.
One final rant: As someone who’s active on social media (not my finest habit) I often come across people who are very passionate in their opinion about the Wheat Kings. We’re lucky to have fans like that (teams can’t survive without them) but there’s been a fair bit of negativity lately as the team has hit a rough patch. I’d say it’s way too early for anyone to pushing any panic buttons in the season, but some fans have pointed out their grievances with the team go back beyond the tenure of the current players and staff. After all, the Wheat Kings haven’t won a playoff round since 2018, and fans are hungry for a winner again.
A couple of notes on this subject: one, the Wheat Kings built up to a window to contend they never fully got to realize since COVID shut down two consecutive playoffs (the second of which the Wheat Kings were poised to have a deep run in if there had been any playoffs). That might be artificially inflating the sense of perpetually being down and out. Look around at other teams in the division and you’ll see most of them have gone through similar cycles (the Prince Albert Raiders, for instance, are on a path to contention nearly identical to that of the Wheat Kings).
Two, this coaching staff as it exists right now has been together for less than two full seasons. When I say it’s too early to hit the panic button, that’s a factor as well. Marty Murray took the reins in December of 2022. In the time since, look at the growth in players like Roger McQueen, Caleb Hadland, and Quinn Mantei among many others. Under this current staff, players are developing into the kind teams can build around. It didn’t happen overnight (it never does) but the Wheat Kings have put together a formidable group under this staff. Don’t believe me? Ask the reporters and announcers in other markets who view this team as a potential contender. You’ll find quite a few of them.
Third of all, this team is entering its window to contend, no question, but that window is going to be wide open next year as well. Some players will need time to develop before they’re ready to push this team to its full potential. That development will take place as this season goes along, and by the end of it you’re going to see just how good some of these young players (especially on defense) can be. You’ll see the occasional rookie mistake in the meantime, but it will be worth it in the end. The defense might be young right now, but the experience gained this season will set the team up beautifully for down the road. The Wheat Kings don’t intend to be done contending after the next two years.
A little patience, Wheat Kings fans, and a little faith. The pieces are all in place, and it’s far too early to worry that they’re not all hitting the heights we expect of them. After all, just take a look at the team that’s expected to be the beast of the east this season in Medicine Hat. They’ve had a rough start out of the gate, but no one doubts that group is going to bounce back.
That said, if they’re going to bounce back, maybe they could be nice enough to wait until next week? Yeah, I wouldn’t count on that. The Wheat Kings had better bring their best to Co-Op place on Friday night because an ornery Tigers squad will certainly bring theirs.
