The 2019/2020 WHL season did not start the way the Brandon Wheat Kings wanted on Friday night, falling 3-2 to the Winnipeg ICE in front of over 4900+ fans at Westoba Place.
Michael Teply (1G-1A)and Carson Lambos (2A) each had two-point nights as the ICE earned their first regular-season victory in new franchise history.
Brandon started the game with a bang, but as a result, found themselves shorthanded right out of the gate. Ridly Greig was given a major penalty for checking to the head just 0:21 into the hockey game.
Despite not being able to convert on three first period powerplays the ICE, carried the momentum into the 2nd period and quickly opened up a two-goal lead.
Just 0:33 into the third period, the ICE opened up a 3-0 lead. In amongst numerous delays due to fog hanging at ice level, the Wheat Kings managed to claw themselves back into the hockey game.
Vincent Iorio and Zach Wytinck scored for Brandon to cut the lead to one, but it was a close as they would come to mounting a comeback.
Jiri Patera was excellent between the pipes for Brandon making 42 saves while Dean McNabb earned his first win as a member of the ICE, stopping 24 shots for the win.
These two teams will do it all again Saturday night at the Wayne Fleming Arena at the University of Manitoba Campus. (7:30 puck drop, 7:00 pre-game show on QCountry Radio)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
No Scoring
Shots: 12-11 Winnipeg
2nd PERIOD
WPG – Connor McClennon (1) (Lambos, Ginnell) 5:58
WPG – Isaac Johnson (1) (Teply, Pederson) 17:11
Shots: 20-7 Winnipeg
3rd PERIOD
WPG – Michael Teply (1) (Lambos, Kinder) 0:33
BWK – Vincent Iorio (1) (McCallum, Burzan) 9:11
BWK – Zach Wytinck (1) (Burzan) 15:20
Final Shots: 45-26 Winnipeg
