Photo by Brandi Pollock
There will be plenty of bragging rights on the line Friday night when the Brandon Wheat Kings welcome the Winnipeg ICE to Westoba Place.
While no lineups have been set as of Wednesday, there is a distinct possibility that two sets of brothers could be facing off when the puck drops on the WHL season.
The Lambos brothers from Winnipeg have already met face to face in a WHL game and from that, a life-long family story evolved. With older brother Jonny in the penalty box, 15-year-old Carson ripped home his first WHL goal, sending the Lambos family into a confusing yet hilarious celebration.
When Carson was drafted by Kootenay 2nd overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, Jonny knew there was going to be the potential to have their basement mini-stick games turn into a real on-ice battle. With the ICE relocating to the provincial capital, the two could potentially share the ice ten times this season, something Jonny says is a surreal experience.
"We trained all summer together, working hard to get better and play in this league together," said Jonny. "Carson looked good in the pre-season but if I get the chance I plan to shut him down this weekend."
On Tuesday afternoon, Wheat Kings GM Darren Ritchie acquired 17-year-old Riley Ginnell, the younger brother of Winnipeg ICE forward Brad Ginnell.
Brad, who has played in 170 regular-season games with Portland and Kootenay is expected to be a leader for the rebuilding ICE club, while the younger Riley is just getting his feet wet in the league.
"Brad is very excited to have my in Brandon… we play them ten times this year, maybe I can talk him into a fight," said Riley with a chuckle. "He has helped me a lot to get to this point. He’s talked to me about just playing my game and not trying to be something I’m not."
Riley arrived in Brandon on Wednesday and skated on a line with Nolan Ritchie and Lynden McCallum and could make his WHL debut this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche have sent forward Luka Burzan back to the Wheat Kings while Ben McCartney was released from his amateur tryout with the Philadelphia Flyers. McCartney has been out with a lower-body injury since the second day of Wheat Kings training camp and is questionable for this weekend.
The battle of the brothers kicks off Friday night at Westoba Place. Puck drop is scheduled for just after 7:30 (Pre-game ceremonies). The QCountry broadcast hits the air at 7:00.