At long last, a hard-fought competition for roster spots is winding down for the Brandon Wheat Kings, and just in time for opening night.
All through camp and the preseason, head coach and GM Marty Murray was faced with the delightful problem that so many prospective players were vying for a handful of spots and playing so well that they all deserved them. But with the home opener now two days away, the Wheat Kings have made the decisions that absolutely no one was making easy on them.
When the Wheat Kings welcome the Saskatoon Blades on Friday night, they will introduce no fewer than a dozen new players to their fans. Some of these came from the WHL Prospects Draft, others from the Import Draft, some from the now-defunct U.S. Priority Selection, and still others are diamond-in-the-rough type finds by the Wheat Kings’ scouting staff.
With a little help from Marty Murray, we introduce you to the new faces on the 2026-27 Brandon Wheat Kings.
FORWARDS
Kris Muissu- F- 2006
After lighting up the MHL (Russia’s junior league) last season to the tune of 34 goals and 69 points in 57 games, Muissu made the jump to North America this season and just kept right on scoring. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound power forward co-led the WHL in preseason goals with six and tacked on three assists as well. Look for him to be a fixture in the Wheat Kings’ offense despite being relatively new to the North American game.
MM: “I really think he has the ability to carry on into the regular season what he’s accomplished in the preseason. He’s a big, strong kid. He’s still learning the North American game a little bit but he’s receptive to everything we’re throwing at him. Even though there’s a bit of a language barrier, he’s doing very well with that. His actions speak for themselves during the preseason.”
Hudson Landmark – F- 2007
There’s no substitute for experience, and Landmark has plenty of that. Not only did he play the last two seasons with the AJHL’s Canmore Eagles, but he went all the way to the Centennial Cup with them last season. Boasting a 6-foot-2 frame, Landmark was remarkably consistent last season with 39 points in 39 regular season games, 14 points in 15 playoff games, and five points in five games at the Centennial Cup. He scored an overtime goal during the showcase overtime to put an exclamation point on a stellar performance in Ochapowace during the preseason.
MM: “You can tell he has a veteran presence and has played junior hockey. Another guy that I think has gotten better every game he’s been out. Unfortunately, he got injured in his last preseason game, but he’s really solid and a right shot, and those seem like they’re kind of hard to come by these days. Hudson is a guy that can play in all situations, he’s got some offensive ability that we saw in preseason and he does a good job of killing penalties as well.”
Cole Hunter – F – 2008
In another time, Shoal Lake Manitoba’s Hunter might never have played with the Wheat Kings. But with WHLers now free to go to college, the Northern Michigan commit is bringing his talents to Brandon and the team is lucky to have him. After a solid first season in U18 AAA with the Yellowhead Chiefs, Hunter made the jump to the MJHL’s Waywayseecappo Wolverines at just 16 years old and played the last two seasons there. He piled up 40 points in 58 games last season, but as the Wheat Kings saw firsthand during the preseason his value extends well beyond his offensive production.
MM: “Cole is a Swiss Army knife. He’s a guy that can play win or center, kill penalties or play on the power play. He chipped in offensively throughout training camp, but besides that he’s a responsible player that you can trust in all situations and he’s really turned some heads here over the last couple of weeks.”
Colin Grubb – F – 2009
The Wheat Kings have been excited about Grubb’s potential from the moment they drafted him out of the vaunted Shattuck St. Mary’s program, and he’s lived up to the hype every step of the way, consistently putting up points despite often being one of the youngest players on his team, and winning national championships to boot. Right before Wheat Kings’ camp the Minot native put up four points in five games while leading Team USA to a silver medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and it clearly prepared him well for his first WHL camp. He amassed six points in just three preseason games while taking critical faceoffs in every situation.
MM: “He’s been as advertised. He’s a strong, 200-foot player and he continues to impress every day. He caught the eyes of our staff on day one in training camp and hasn’t stopped since. He’s a strong player that plays in all situations and we’re thrilled to have him here.”
Carson Park – F – 2009
Park was solid in his first season with the Moose Jaw AAA Warriors as a 15-year-old, but last season he found another gear. He needed just 35 games to pot 51 points, and helped the Warriors to the Saskatchewan U18 AAA finals where they lost a heartbreaker of a game five to the Regina Pat Canadians. In between pushing the Warriors deep into the playoffs, Park also got into his first WHL action with the Wheat Kings and his first SJHL action with the Nipawin Hawks in a busy, productive, and highly successful season.
MM: “He maybe started out a little slowly in camp but he’s gotten progressively better every time he’s stepped out on the ice. He’s a guy that does a lot of little things that don’t get noticed on the scoresheet, but I feel as though his game has gotten stronger every game he’s played.”
Ahmad Fayad – F – 2010
The Wheat Kings’ second round pick in 2025 has produced like a first-rounder everywhere he’s been and last season at NAX was no different. With 34 points in 25 games, he was one of NAX’s go-to offensive threats, and played so well in the U18 Prep ranks that he earned an invite from Hockey Canada to their U17 development camp this summer. He kept the ball rolling with two goals in his last two preseason games, and brings sandpaper to the table as well.
MM: “We feel like he’s a really strong offensive player and he plays with a bit of an edge. That’s maybe something that surprised us a little bit in training camp and the preseason, he’s not just skilled, he plays with hard skill and grit. Those guys are getting harder and harder to find, and Ahmad is one of those guys. I think he had a really strong camp.”
Levi Ellingsen – F – 2010
The former first overall pick in the 2025 U.S. Priority Selection (possibly the last such draft ever to be held) can pile up points, no question about it. He’s got a wicked release and, as he demonstrated on a set-up of Fayad’s last preseason goal, he can dish the puck too. In his first season at NAX last year, he had 29 points in 27 games, and from there he helped Team USA to a gold medal at the U17 Four Nation’s Tournament this summer. But Ellingsen’s game is by no means defined solely by points. The 6-foot-1 forward loves to steamroll opponents with heavy checks, and did so consistently through the preseason. He got into his first five WHL games during the Wheat Kings’ U.S. road trip last season, and collected his first WHL point in the win over the Wenatchee Wild.
MM: “He’s at his best when he’s playing a power forward game. He has some physicality to his game, and although he’s young he’s not scared to get in there and get his nose dirty. He’s a player with more of that hard skill, a bit of a throwback if you will and I think he’s going to do some good things as a 16-year-old.”
DEFENSEMEN
Ilari Kapanen – D – 2007
Injuries may have limited Kapanen to just 13 games split between the Finish Liiga and the Swedish U20 league last season, but he clearly wasn’t out of sight out of mind. Team Finland brought him to the World Junior Summer Showcase this offseason, where he put up points and helped quarterback their power play. With quick feet and strong puck moving skills, the veteran Kapanen is a good bet to represent Finland internationally again this winter. He was the Wheat Kings’ second pick of the 2026 CHL Import Draft.
MM: “Ilari, like with a lot of Europeans coming over and the ice being smaller, it took him a little time to adjust, but I think he’s adjusting well. He’s a smart player. His skating is elite. We feel he can be a guy that can break pucks out, compliment our forwards, and get up in the rush.”
Easten Turko – D – 2009
Many Brandon hockey fans will already be well familiar with Easten Turko. The younger brother of Wheat Kings’ star Brady was the team’s third-round pick in 2024 and spent the past two seasons making a name for himself with the U18 AAA Wheat Kings. He erupted offensively last season with 63 points in just 44 games en route to being named the Manitoba U18 AAA defenseman of the year. In addition, he made his Wheat Kings debut, played in two games, and earned praise from his coaches for his poised, efficient style.
MM: “Turks is a Steady Eddie, he does everything quite well. He plays the game in a little bit of a rocking chair. He’s one of those guys that’s dependable in both ends of the rink. He can provide some offense, and a lot of times makes the game look easy. He’s grown, he put on some strength this summer, and I think that’s a good sign of things to come for us.”
Ethan Young – D – 2009
Just as Turko was named the defenseman of the year in Manitoba, Young was given the same honour in Saskatchewan. And it may be many more years before another defenseman has the kind of season Young just did. He set a new record for points by a defenseman in the modern era with a whopping 74 points in 41 games, then established a new all-time points record for defensemen at the TELUS Cup with 14 in a single tournament. On top of all that, he played a nasty physical game and collected his first WHL point in his first WHL appearance against the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
MM: “He’s one of those guys that you didn’t realize how much of an edge he played with. He’s kind of wiry, he holds the other team accountable and he’s hard to play against. He had a little setback with injury in camp, missed the first weekend of the preseason, but I thought he bounced back with a really strong weekend series against Moose Jaw.”
Cruz Jim – D – 2010
The Wheat Kings’ first-round pick, 12th overall, in 2025, Jim is more than ready to make the leap from the prep school ranks with NAX to the WHL. In fact, despite being one of the youngest defensemen in the circuit, he was a finalist for the CSSHL defenseman of the year after putting up 21 points in 26 games and six points in six playoff games. Like Fayad, Jim was invited to Canada’s U17 camp this summer, and is a good bet to wear the Maple Leaf at the World Under-17 Challenge this winter. He also played four games for the Wheat Kings last season.
MM: “Cruz is a guy that started out a little slowly in camp and preseason but I think he’s really come along. Another guy that is a good puck moving defenseman. That’s one of the things we’ve tried to add to our group over the last couple of summers with the draft and with trades. He really compliments the kind of defensemen we’re looking for and I think he’s only going to get better and better as the season progresses.”
GOALTENDER
Joffrey Chan – G – 2010
Chan played in the U17 prep ranks with St. George’s School last year, but he showed no sign of intimidation when he was brought into his first preseason game this fall, stopping 17 of 19 in a 6-2 win over Moose Jaw. He was a star with St. George’s last year, posting a 2.99 GAA and a .913 save percentage and, like all the best goalies, saved his best work for when the games mattered most. The 6-foot-2 netminder went 2-0-1 in the playoffs with a 1.96 GAA and an incredible .945 save percentage.
MM: “As a 16-year-old, that’s the hardest position to come into a preseason game. There’s nobody there to back you up. He had a really strong game, he weathered a storm there in the first half before we were able to pull away in the third. I thought he made some big games that kept the game tight that allowed us to win that game.”
