The Brandon Wheat Kings have acquired 20-year-old forward Jayden Wiens from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for two draft picks: a 2025 3rd round pick, and a 4th round selection in 2027. The native of Carrot River Saskatchewan has played 166 WHL games, all with the Blades, and posted 43 goals and 82 points in that span.
“He’s going to help us in a variety of ways,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “He’s a leader, he had a deep playoff run last year with Saskatoon and was one of the key components of their success. He’s a 200-foot player that has compete, and we talked about being hard to play against and he’s one of those guys that will help us every night on that.”
Wiens finished with 17 goals and 27 points in 42 games last season for Saskatoon. It was the playoffs, however, where he turned in his best performances. In 18 playoff games, Wiens finished second on the team with eight goals. He also regularly drew the tough matchups against the opposition’s deadliest scorers.
“He’ll expand on what he did last year, for sure,” Murray said. “He has that ability. He’s not afraid to get to the dirty areas. We look at him in a variety of different ways, not just scoring goals. He’s a guy that can play against the other team’s top line, night in and night out.”
With the acquisition of Wiens, the Wheat Kings now have four 20-year-old players on their roster, a number they must reduce to three by October 10. 2003-born Forward Dawson Pasternak hasn’t played through the preseason yet due to injury, while 2003-born forward Brett Hyland remains away at camp with the Washington Capitals after cracking their training camp roster.
“There’s some uncertainty with Pasternak, who is battling some injuries,” Murray said of the team’s 20-year-old situation. “Probably the main reason why we made this move, we felt it was important to start with three 20-year-olds, especially with Hyland gone to Washington’s camp. You never know what can happen there, either.”
The Wheat Kings open their season on home ice against the Regina Pats, this Friday, September 22. There will be a tailgate party in the Keystone Centre parking lot beginning at 4:00. Puck drop is 7:00.
(Article courtesy of the Brandon Wheat Kings)
