Earlier today, the Brandon Wheat Kings made an announcement that GM Grant Armstrong would not have his contract renewed by the hockey club. “I’d like to thank Grant for his contribution to our organization,” says McCrimmon, who was named the new General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights last week. “He was responsible for many of the moves that will serve us well in the future.” “At the same time, I also felt a change was necessary as we look to return to a higher level as an organization,” he went on to say. No timetable has been set for naming a replacement.

The third and final week on the Source for Sports AAA Summer Hockey Challenge concluded earlier today with championship hardware being handed out in three different divisions. Sean White was named the tournament's top referee while Derek Sobkow and Cole McCaig shared the "Tyler Coulter Award" as the tournaments most dedicated coach. U10 In the U10 finals, Jade Pelland (2), Reese Shuttie, Shayla Scinocca, and Abby Oughton all scored for the Manitoba Monsters (pictured above) as they upended the Manitoba Hawks 5-1. Adriana Pepe picked up three assists for the Monsters. The Monsters only surrendered 2 goals in their five games played over the weekend. Payton Henwood relied for the Hawks in a losing cause. U12  Brooke Barylski scored 2 goals, including the eventual game winner, to lead the North Stars to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Westman Frostbite. Mackenzie Lizotte added a single marker for the North Stars. Dara Thompson scored both goals for the Frostbite. U14 The AHA Titans (pictured below) trailed the North Stars 2-0, before storming back to score three unanswered goals in claiming the U14 title. Scoring for the Ttians were Janelle Evans, Julia Duke, and Amy Divernichuk. Chloe Sorenson registered 27 saves in picking up the win. Tessa Stewart and Kate Johnson scored for the North Stars.

Mark Derlago is the guest on this edition of Community Connection. Mark spent three seasons playing hockey for his hometown Brandon Wheat Kings before heading out on a very successful professional career which has seen him play in many countries including Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Nickname: Billy First job: Paper boy in Brandon What’s the last adventure you went on: Malaga Spain in February If you were trying out for Canadian Idol what would be your go to song: Bobcaygeon-Tragically Hip Best sports movie of all time: Major League Your dream golfing foursome includes yourself and these three people: Bill Murray, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods Which former teammate would make a great coach: Dustin Friesen Your fast food guilty pleasure: Spicy Chicken at Wendy's What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of to date: Named in ECHL top 30 greatest players of all time. Backyard BBQ or Formal Dinner: BBQ What movie title best describes your life: Lost in Translation Of all the cities I have played hockey in, this is my favourite city to live: Nottingham England Who was your childhood celebrity crush: Kelly Kapowski-saved by the bell Apart from loved ones, what’s your most treasured possession: Roberto Alomar autographed baseball. Best piece of advice you have been given: First year in junior, our coach Mike Kelly told me not to be impressed by anyone. What’s your go-to meal when cooking: Tacos What’s something you don’t know, but want to learn: play guitar What's your go-to song to get pumped up for practice or a game: Just some good country is all I need. Who would make you totally star struck: Darryl Wolski They say that everyone has a book in them. What would your book be about: Coming back from a broken neck and travelling the world with my family.

Red Deer, AB. – The 2019 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft has come and gone with the Brandon Wheat Kings selecting a total of ten players, including four from Manitoba and six from Alberta. The Wheat Kings, who entered the day with four of the first 23 picks were busy early, dealing the playing rights to Sean Comrie as well as the tenth overall selection to the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for pick number five, giving Brandon back to back picks and two “top six” picks for the first time since 2013 when they took Nolan Patrick and Kale Clague fourth and sixth overall. With those two early first round selections, the Wheat Kings took center Nate Danielson of Red Deer and Russell’s Tyson Zimmer with the fifth and sixth overall picks. As a member of the Red Deer Bantam AAA Rebels this past season, Danielson scored 26 goals and 59 points in 29 games. Chosen Most Valuable Player in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League this past season, he also played two games for the AAA Midget Chiefs, scoring four times this past year. “Nate sees the ice really well,” says Brandon’s Director of Scouting Darren Ritchie. “He plays with pace and we like him a lot.” A 5’10” 173 lb Russell product, Zimmer played this past season with Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, averaging two points per game with 22 goals and 52 points in 26 games. “This kid has a great shot and we see these two prospects as two thirds of a top line in the league,” Ritchie says when describing the former Parkland AAA Bantam Ranger. Brandon then rounded out a busy first round by choosing center Rylan Roersma of Raymond, Alberta with the sixteenth overall selection. The 5’11” 160 lb. center from the Lethbridge AAA Golden Hawks scored 23 goals and 44 points in 29 games during the 2018-19 campaign. “We’re really excited to get Rylan,” says Ritchie. “This kid has speed, scores and plays a 200-foot game.” Brandon hasn’t had three first round selections since 1992 when they drafted Wade Redden (2nd), Justin Kurtz (6th) and Joel Korenko (7th). Following a trade in the second to move back and gain a fourth round pick, the Wheat Kings took 6′ 160 lb. Boissevain defenceman Zach Turner of the Southwest AAA Bantam Cougars 31st overall. In 36 games last season, he scored twenty goals and 28 points in 36 games. With their two third round selections, Brandon chose 5’9” 171 lb Winnipeg right-winger Jesiah Bennett (52nd) and Owen Harris (53rd overall), a 5’9” 181 lb Wawanesa product. Bennett scored fifteen goals and 31 points in 29 games with Rink Hockey Academy this past season while Harris scored six goals and 19 points as a member of the Southwest AAA Bantam Cougars. In round four, Brandon opted for 5’8” 136 lb center forward Liam Watkins of Okotoks, Alberta and in the fifth the Wheat Kings drafted 6’ 170 lb. goalkeeper Nicholas Jones of Calgary (93rd), defenceman Kaiden Ellertson , a 5’11” 182 lb. defenceman from Red Deer (96th) as well as 5’8” 145 lb defenceman Cyle Clayton (106th) of Strathmore, Alberta. In 30 games for Edge Hockey Prep this past season, Watkins scored nine goals and 19 points. Ellertson meanwhile had eight goals and 25 points in 33 games for Red Deer, Clayton scored seven goals and 34 points in 33 games with the Okotoks AAA Bantam Oilers while Jones compiled an impressive 2.63 goals against average and a .922 save percentage with the Calgary AAA Bisons. Following the fifth round, the Wheat Kings dealt their sixth, seventh and eighth round picks to the Rockets in exchange for Kelowna’s fifth round selection in 2020. Then they sent their two ninth round picks to Portland for a 2022 eighth round pick. Of the ten players chosen by Brandon, five were forwards, four were defencemen and there was one goalkeeper. “I was really happy with how things shaped up today,” says Ritchie, who went on to say “we had a plan going in and we feel really comfortable with how it turned out.” “We’re excited about the players that we drafted and truly believe that they’ll be great additions to our club.” Meanwhile the Winnipeg Ice used the first overall selection to take Matthew Savoie of the Northern Alberta Xtreme. The Ice then moved up in the draft to grab Strathclair’s Conor Geekie with the second overall selection. Source: Brandon Wheat Kings Release

The 2019 WHL Bantam Draft will be held this Thursday in Red Deer, Alberta. Thanks to a series of trades, the Wheat Kings have 3 picks in the first round and 15 overall. Players born in 2004 are eligible to be selected in this year’s draft. The Winnipeg Ice will select first overall. Brandon's Cayden Glover is the lone ranked Brandon prospect (Western Elite Hockey Prospects) entering Thursday's draft. They rank Glover as the number 44 top rated prospect. A total of 260 players were ranked. According to WEHP "The ’04 winger used his big frame to protect the puck and shield out opponents. He has a strong stride and was flying around the ice making plays". The 6'0", 162lb forward notched 66 points (47g,19a) in 36 games for the Brandon AAA Bantam Wheat Kings this past season. Strathclair's Conor Geekie is the 2nd ranked prospect by WEHP. Last season he suited up for the Yellowhead Chiefs AAA Bantam team and registered 86 points in 31 regular season games. Tyson Zimmer, of Russell, is rated 13th by WEHP. In 2018/19 Zimmer picked up 52 points in 26 games for the Okanagan Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team in the CSSBHL.