The Wendys Summer Hockey League (WSHL) kicked off its 28th season on Wednesday with a total of 18 teams taking part in four different divisions. The summer league is a perfect way for players to stay sharp and in game shape during the off season. The league has a seven-week regular season schedule that runs from the start of July to the third week of August. Playoffs immediately follow the conclusion of the regular season. Each year the rosters are filled with players with NHL, WHL, College, and minor pro hockey experience on their resume. Micheal Ferland, Travis Sanheim, Cody McLeod, and Ryan Pulock are among the NHL players lacing them up in the WSHL this season. Players who played in the WHL last season include Daemon Hunt, Tristen Robins, Chad Nychuk, Zack Wytinck, Trent Miner, and Jiri Patera. Morgan Geekie, Jordan Stallard, Duncan Campbell, Tyler Dittmer, Matt Lowry, Ryan White, Alex Plante, and Colby Robak represent a strong contingent of former WHL players competing in the WSHL this summer. For more information on the league, please click this link.

Brandon-born, NHL defenceman, Joel Edmundson, will bring the Stanley Cup to a free viewing party at the Keystone Centre on Monday, July 8, 2019. Edmundson won the 2019 Stanley Cup with the St Louis Blues, the first Stanley Cup in their 52-year franchise history. Public are invited to attend this free event and use their own camera for their family or group photo with Edmundson and the Stanley Cup, which will be on a first come first served basis. The event will be located in the UCT Pavilion from 1PM to 5PM. There will be a BBQ on-site with food and beverages available for purchase. “I’m excited to bring The Stanley Cup to Brandon to say ‘Thank you’ to those that helped me along the way and to show people that dreams do come true,” said Joel Edmundson, 2019 Stanley Cup Champion, St Louis Blues. “The Keystone Centre is excited to partner with Joel Edmundson and his family to host this free event for the community,” said Krista Kowaluk, marketing & sponsorship manager, Keystone Centre. “We look forward to celebrating Joel’s big win here in the facility where he played in his youth and showing him how proud our region is of his career and accomplishments!” Credit: Keystone Centre Facebook event

Former Brandon Wheat King Andrew Clark has signed in Switzerland with Langenthal. Clark spent four years with the Wheat Kings (2005-2009). He has spent the last 3-seasons with HC Innsbruck, an Austrian professional ice hockey team. Last season he shared the lead for points in the league on the strength of 69 points in 52 games. Eric Roy has signed a one-year contract with Corona Brașov (Romania, Erste Liga). Roy spent 5-years (2010-15) in a Wheat King uniform and was an assistant captain in his final 2-years. A draft pick of the NHL's Calgary Flames, he was spent the last several seasons in the ECHL

Zooperstars! are coming to Brandon's Andrews Field on Tuesday, July 2nd. This is a performance you don't want to miss. Enjoy this fun-filled act between innings of the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks game vs. the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs. Based in Louisville, Kentucky they have been using comedy, acrobatics, tricks and maneuvers accompanied by synchronized dancing to entertain fans for 20 years. "The unique show features hilarious inflatable characters with clever names such as Harry Canary, Tommy Laswordfish, Clammy Sosa, Shark McGwire, and many more!  The performance combines synchronized dance routines, acrobatics, tricks and comedy for performances that connect with fans of all ages. Yes, adults often laugh harder than the kids! ". Source: http://www.zooperstars.com/best-promotions-acts-minor-league-baseball.html The company has also made multiple appearances on America's Got Talent and have performed for over 200 different sports teams around the world. For tickets go to: https://tickets.wheatcitywhiskeyjacks.com/events/10900-souris-valley-sabre-dogs-whiskey-jacks

The Brandon Wheat Kings selected two players during Thursday’s Canadian Hockey League’s annual Import Draft. With their first selection (22nd overall), the Wheat Kings chose 18-year old Finnish forward Marcus Kallionkieli  and in round two, they opted for Russian left-winger Vladislav Firstov (82nd overall). A 6’2” 195 lb. Helsinki product, Kallionkieli was a fifth round selection (139th overall) of the Vegas Golden Knights in last Saturday’s National Hockey League Draft. A member of the USHL’s Sioux City Muskateers this past season, Marcus scored 29 goals and 83 points in 58 games and was named to the USHL’s All Rookie All Star Team. During the 2017-18 season, he scored thirteen goals and 22 points in 29 games for SM-sarja in Helsinki. “Marcus is a really talented player,” says Wheat Kings Director of Scouting Darren Ritchie. “He’s a big body, skates well and has a heavy shot. He’s a drafted NHL player and we’re hopeful that we can get him to Brandon this season.” Firstov meanwhile was chosen by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of Saturday’s NHL draft in Vancouver and after scoring 26 goals and 58 points for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL last season, the 6’1” 181 lb Russian has committed to play in the NCAA in 2019-20. “He’s an offensively gifted player,” says Ritchie. “He plays with good jump to his game and is a hard working power forward.” “Because he’s committed to the University of Connecticut, there is some work to be done on getting him here,” he added. The Wheat Kings were able to select two players in Thursday’s draft as netminder Jiri Patera, who is expected to return for his second season with the WHL club, is a 20-year old overage player. CHL clubs are permitted to carry a maximum of two imports. A sixth round draft choice of the Golden Knights, Patera became the first ever European goalkeeper to be chosen and to play for the Wheat Kings. In 48 games during the 2018-19 campaign, Patera compiled a 3.31 goals against average and a .906 save percentage for the Wheat Kings, who finished fourth in the Eastern Division with a record of 31-29-4-4. The two round draft took place online with the order of selection rotating through each of the CHL’s three leagues using an inverse order of final regular season standings during the 2018-19 campaign. Kallionkieli becomes the third Finnish born player to be selected by the Wheat Kings in the CHL Import Draft, since it was established in 1993. He joins Toni Rajala and Sami Sandel, who were chosen in the first rounds of the 2009 and 2004 drafts respectively. Six Russians have been chosen by the Wheat Kings over the years but only two have played in Brandon. Ivan Provorov was chosen 30th overall in 2014 while Andrei Lupandin was selected with the 28th pick in 1995. While Lupandin was a member of the 1996 WHL Championship Team, Provorov was instrumental in leading the Wheat Kings to the 2016 Title. Thursday’s CHL Import Draft caps off a busy week for the Whet Kings, who unveiled their 2019-20 regular season schedule on Wednesday. The Wheat Kings will kick off the regular season with a home and home series with the Winnipeg ICE, beginning Friday, September 20th at Westoba Place.