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.
"I'm finding everything is working well so far," Stone said after Friday's game. "I've got new linemates and we are clicking well, so far."
Stone, 19, who is in his fourth year with the Wheat Kings, said playing with one team has been nice.
"I have all the respect in the world for Brandon," he said. "It's two hours from home and it's a high class organization. It's hard not to succeed."
Though Stone is from Winnipeg, he said he's not close to Tri-City's Winnipeg contingent of Adam Hughesman, Brendan Shinnimin, Mason Wilgosh and Justin Hamonic.
"I know them well enough to say hello," he said. "We play some summer hockey, but they live at the other end of town from me. We have a mutual respect for each other on the ice."
Stone, a 2010 sixth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators, was injured when the Wheat Kings were in Kennewick two years ago. He said he liked the atmosphere of the game, and the weather.
"The fans are a new experience for us," he said. "They are really into the game. This is the first time I've been here — it was a great experience. You can't complain about the weather. The grass is still green here this time of year."
