For those of you who took a good look at the Brandon Wheat Kings roster Wednesday night, you would have noticed Wheaton King wearing No. 18.
It's no joke. There is a Wheaton King playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Growing up in Elgin just outside of Brandon, Manitoba, it can be assumed that young Wheaton, 17, was named for the hometown WHL team. But we all know what happens when you assume.
So I asked him.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward said he was named after the crops his father Fred grows -- wheat.
"I was raised on a wheat farm," King said. "But I've been watching (the Wheat Kings) since was 8. We had season tickets when I was younger and I always wanted to play for them -- it feels great that I actually am."
Wheaton's older brother Sanfred, who played two seasons for the Wheat Kings, was named after his parents Sandy and Fred. Sanfred, 19, was re-assigned by the Wheat Kings last month and joined the BCHL's Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Wheaton King's name caught national attention earlier this year and has been mentioned on the Total Pro Sports blog and a few lesser blogs (with language not fit for a family paper).
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Game Day: Moose Jaw at Tri-City
Game Day: Moose Jaw at Tri-City
Tonight features a matchup of two of the top teams in this week's CHL poll.
The Americans are ranked No. 1 for the first time in franchise history, and Moose Jaw is ranked 10th. Tonight is the one and only meeting between the teams this season. Tri-City has won the last five meetings with the Warriors.
The Americans lead the U.S. Division, Western Conference and WHL with 58 points, while the Warriors lead the East Division with 53 points. A win tonight and the Americans would set a franchise record for consecutive wins (11).
One to watch: Brandon's Mark Stone
One to watch: Brandon's Mark Stone
Brandon's Mark Stone made his first trip to Toyota Center a memorable one.
The 6-3, 195-pound winger from Winnipeg, Manitoba, had two assists Friday as the Wheat Kings escaped with a 3-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans.
With the two assists, Stone now leads the WHL with 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) heading into Saturday's games. After scoring 106 points last season, he's well on his way to surpassing that total this year.
A tribute to Brad McCrimmon
A tribute to Brad McCrimmon
While I didn't know any of the players or coaches killed in the plane crash in Russia on Wednesday, I do know Kelly McCrimmon of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Kelly's brother Brad, a standout in the WHL and NHL, was killed in the crash. Brad was named the head coach of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in May.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the McCrimmon family.
Here is a nice piece written by Rob Henderson of the Brandon Sun.
Brandon skates past Tri-City 3-2
Brandon skates past Tri-City 3-2
KENNEWICK -- Mark Stone and the Brandon Wheat Kings are for real.
Stone, the WHL scoring leader, added to his total Friday night, handing out two assists in helping the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 3-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans before a crowd of 3,697 at Toyota Center.
"It was a good hockey game," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team lost on home ice for the first time in five games. "They have a real mobile defense and they didn't give us much. We just didn't have a lot of offensive zone time."
HOCKEY: Ams' Rimmer wins WHL goalie award
HOCKEY: Ams' Rimmer wins WHL goalie award
CALGARY, Alberta — The Western Hockey League announced today that Ty Rimmer, of the Tri-City Americans has been named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for December.
The 19-year-old goaltender posted a 6-0 record through December with one shutout. Rimmer's 1.50 goals-against average and 0.945 save percentage led all WHL goaltenders in December. He allowed nine goals on 165 shots in 360 minutes played.
Rimmer’s consistent play helped the Americans go undefeated through December (10-0) and post a 29-7-0-0 season record for 58 points, leading the WHL Western Conference and entire League. He also leads all WHL goaltenders with a 2.03 goals-against average and 0.932 save percentage in 22 appearances this year.
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