Brandon, MB – Brandon Wheat Kings General Manager Darren Ritchie has announced the appointment of Dave Lowry as the Western Hockey League clubs new head coach. Lowry has an extensive coaching resume that includes experience at both the WHL and National Hockey League levels. An Ottawa, Ontario native, he has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings. Prior to joining the NHL club Lowry spent five seasons with the Victoria Royals, where he earned Coach of the Year honours on two occasions. In addition to serving as head coach for Team Canada at the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships, he captured gold as an assistant coach in 2015. During his five years in Victoria, he led the Royals to a winning record each season and made the playoffs in all five years. Overall the team compiled an impressive 209-124-27 record with Lowry behind the bench. “We see this as a very positive step for our organization,” says Wheat Kings general manager Darren Ritchie. “Dave’s teams are always prepared, they play fast and are very competitive.” “I’d like to thank Kelly McCrimmon and Darren Ritchie for the opportunity to coach the Brandon Wheat Kings,” says Dave Lowry. “I look forward to returning to the WHL and working with these athletes, developing them as players and individuals.” Before joining the Royals in 2012, he spent close to a decade with the Calgary Flames organization in a variety of capacities, after serving as head coach of the WHL’s Hitmen in 2008-09, where he led Calgary to a 59-9-0-4 regular season record, an Eastern Conference Title and a berth in the Championship Final against Kelowna, he spent three years as an assistant coach with the NHL club. In six seasons behind the bench in the WHL, he has a career record of 268-133-31. His .659 winning percentage is among the league’s career leaders. As a player, Lowry played nineteen seasons in the NHL as a member of the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks and Flames. He scored 164 goals and 351 points and 1,191 penalty minutes in 1,084 career games. A member of the Panthers that advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in 1995, he announced his retirement in 2004. “I’m excited to get to Brandon to sit down with the Hockey Operations staff and make preparations for the 2019-2020 season,” Lowry went onto say. “My wife and I look forward to joining the Brandon community and continuing the winning Wheat Kings tradition.” Lowry and his wife Elaine have four children, daughters Sarah and Tessa as well as two sons, Adam and Joel. His son Adam is a former WHL all-star and is currently skating with the Winnipeg Jets. His other son Joel meanwhile was chosen in the fifth round, 140th overall, by the Kings in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and recently signed with the Florida Panthers earlier this month. “We are extremely excited to name Dave our head coach,” says Wheat Kings Owner and Governor Kelly McCrimmon. “He’s a proven winner, has tremendous experience and a great reputation for developing players.” “This is a great hire for our players and for our fans,” he added. “I know Dave real well personally. I worked with him at the 2016 World Junior Tournament and I feel he embodies exactly what we want our organization to stand for.” Lowry will be in Brandon next month in anticipation of the Wheat Kings Training Camp that begins on August 28th.

Brandon's Tanner Jago has signed an AHL contract to play hockey with the Texas Stars. Jago recently completed his fourth season with the Bentley University Falcons. The 5'11" defensemen amassed 86 points while at Bentley. He is a former member of the Brandon Midget AAA Wheat Kings hockey program and spent time in the MJHL with both the Winkler Flyers and the Portage Terriers. In preparation for his first season of pro hockey, Jago is skating with the Settin' the Tone Samoyeds in the Wendy's Summer Hockey League.

The Westman Magic took home the Softball Manitoba U14 'A' Girls' title after a lopsided 7-1 victory over the Manitoba Thunder. Natalie Draper reached base three times and scored a pair of runs to pace the Magic offensively in Sunday's gold medal contest. Danika Nell allowed one run on two hits with six strikeouts to pick up the win for Westman while Luka Solomon reached base twice and scored a pair of runs. Overall, the Magic went a perfect 9-0 on the weekend in their games played at the Ashley Neufeld Softball Complex.. They advanced to the gold medal contest after defeating Smitty's Terminators 5-4 in the 1-2 game earlier in the day. Luka Solomon's three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning earned the Magic a spot in the Provincial final. Danika Nell added two hits and two runs for the Magic.  Manitoba Thunder claimed the silver medal  and Smitty's Terminators go home with the bronze. (with files from Bruce Luebke)

Brandon, MB – The Brandon Wheat Kings have a new General Manager. Kelly McCrimmon, the Western Hockey League club’s Owner and Governor, has appointed Darren Ritchie for the job. A former WHL All Star, Ritchie becomes the twelfth GM since the Wheat Kings joined the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967. A Winnipeg native, Ritchie brings a wealth of WHL experience, having spent nine seasons as an Assistant Coach before being named Director of Scouting in 2016. “It’s a real honour to have been given this opportunity,” says Ritchie, who was a member of McCrimmon’s coaching staff when the Wheat Kings hosted the MasterCard Memorial Cup in 2010, when they captured the Eastern Conference Title in 2015 and when Brandon captured the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as WHL Champions in 2016. “I’ve always been proud to be a Wheat King and I look forward to working with our staff to ensure this club continues to improve and become a consistently successful team.” “Being a leader for our hockey club, I am excited about having the chance to help make this club the best that it can be,” he went on to say. During his WHL playing days, Ritchie scored 152 goals (7th most in franchise history) and 278 points in 232 regular season career games. His best season came in 1994-94 when he recorded a team leading 62 goals and 114 points in 69 games. Not only was he named to the Eastern Conference First All Star Team, he was chosen winner of the Brad Hornung Trophy that goes to the league’s Most Sportsmanlike Player and he was instrumental in leading the Wheat Kings to the WHL Championship Final and a berth into the 1995 Memorial Cup in Kamloops. Following his junior career, Darren spent nine seasons playing professional hockey in both North America and Europe. “I am proud today to name Darren the general manager of our team,” says McCrimmon. “He has a tremendous background in the game in a variety of roles. This experience base will serve him well in his new position.” “Darren has been a Wheat King for sixteen years and no one understands better what our organization is about,” McCrimmon went on to say. Two of Ritchie’s most important moves should come shortly as he will be instrumental in leading the search for not only head coach but his replacement as director of scouting. “Our search for a new head coach continues,” says the 45-year old Ritchie, who expects to have an announcement in the next week. Ritchie and his wife Rhonda have two children – Quinn and Nolan. In addition to McCrimmon, Ritchie joins a list of former GMs that include the likes of Bill Shinske, Les Jackson, Jack Brockest, Jim Foubister, Doug Clark, Rudy Pilous, Gerry Brisson, Ron Maxwell, Glen Lawson and Grant Armstrong. (Source: Brandon Wheat Kings)

Unrestricted free-agent Micheal Ferland has reached a new four-year, 14 million, agreement with the NHL's Vancouver Canucks. The 27-year old Ferland spent last season with the Carolina Hurricanes where he tallied 17 goals and 23 assists. Now 27, the former Wheat King (2009-2013) joins his 3rd NHL team since entering the NHL.