Cranbrook, BC (CKLQ) – Jiri Patera made 29 saves for his first career WHL shutout in a 7-0 win over the Kootenay ICE on Tuesday night.
Looking for their first win in Cranbrook since the 15/16 season, the Brandon Wheat Kings got off to a quick start, in the third game of their six-game road trip.
Baron Thompson opened the scoring, wiring his 7th of the year over the shoulder of ICE netminder Jesse Makaj. With an assist on the goal, Caiden Daley extends his point-scoring streak to five games.
Late in the period, the Wheat Kings top line snapped a streak of over 220 minutes without a point as Cole Reinhardt set up Luka Burzan who hammered home his 36th of the year to put Brandon up 2-0.
The Wheat Kings opened the flood gates in the 2nd period, adding three more to take a 5-0 lead in the locker room after 40 minutes.
First, it was Ridly Greig tapping home his 14th of the year. After Ben McCartney was stopped on a breakaway, the puck rattled around inside the Kootenay end and landed on the stick of Greig who made no mistake to put Brandon up 3-0.
Baron Thompson would pick up his 2nd of the night just two minutes later, followed by a Stelio Mattheos goal to put Brandon comfortably in front heading to the third period.
Patera, who was making his 11th straight start turned aside all five shots he faced in the 3rd period, as the Wheat Kings defense helped lock down the goose egg with a solid final 20.
Luka Burzan and Connor Gutenberg would add third-period goals for Brandon who snap a three-game losing streak and move into a tie with Red Deer for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Brandon’s last win in Cranbrook came during the championship season, a 3-2 win on February 24, 2016.
The Wheat Kings first ever trip to Western Financial Place came on December 29th, 2000. Jiri Jakes scored the lone Wheat King goal in a 4-1 loss in front of 4002 fans. Dan Blackburn made 44 saves for the ICE.
Brandon will continue this six-game road trip Wednesday night in Lethbridge. Game time is 8:00 MB time (7:30 pre-game show on QCountry Radio).
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
BWK – Baron Thompson (7) (Daley, Schneider) 9:11
BWK – Luka Burzan (36) (Reinhardt, Nychuk) 16:06
Shots: 12-11 Kootenay
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Ridly Greig (14) (McCartney, Iorio) 10:38
BWK – Baron Thompson (8) (Chizen, Hooker) 12:51
Shots: 12-12
3rd PERIOD
BWK – Luka Burzan (37) (Unassisted) 12:41
BWK – Connor Gutenberg (15) (Greig, McCartney) 19:04
Final Shots: 35-29 Brandon
