The Brandon Wheat Kings made a series of announcements at a press conference held today.  Below are a few of the highlights. CZECH REPUBLIC GOALKEEPER ON WAY TO BRANDON The Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that they’ve signed Import goalkeeper Jiri Patera.  A 19-year old native of the Czech Republic, Patera spent the 2017-18 campaign with Cedar Rapids of the USHL after being chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the sixth round (161st overall) of last year’s National Hockey League Draft. WHEAT KINGS’ SEASON TICKET TOTALS ECLIPSE 2,000 With the curtain about to go up on what should be an exciting 2018-19 Western Hockey League season, the Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that season ticket sales have eclipsed the 2,000 mark.  Last season 2,600 season tickets were sold and they finished the year with an average of well over 3,800 fans per home game. WHEAT KINGS ADD NEW ATHLETIC TRAINER The Brandon Wheat Kings have a new athletic therapist for the 2018-19 Western Hockey League season as Roman (RJ) Kaszczij is joining the organization.   Kaszczij comes to Brandon from Guelph, Ontario and a two year stint with the Ontario Hockey League Champion Hamilton Bulldogs. WHEAT KINGS INK NEW RADIO DEAL WITH Q COUNTRY The Brandon Wheat Kings are pleased to announce that they have come to terms on a new three-year broadcast agreement with Q Country 91.5FM (locally owned and operated by Westman Communications Group).  The new contract will begin with the 2018-19 Western Hockey League season and conclude with the 2020-21 campaign.

Drayson Collyer picked up 2 goals and 2 assists to lead Glen Lea Golf Course (pictured above) to a 4-3 victory over Smitty's Wings in the WSHL Division 2 finals.  Carter Sawchuk and Nate Hunter also dented the twine for Glean Lea while Cory King registered 2 assists.  Trent Miner made 20 saves in picking up the win. Braeden Boschman (2 g) and Josh Elmes (1g) replied for Smitty's. Logan Wotton, Cole Muir, Braeden Binda and Brad Marshall each picked up a goal in 2112 Hockey Agency's 4-3 win over the Applebee's Swamp Donkeys in div 3 action played at the Sportslex,  Wotton also added 2 assists.  Responding with singles for Applebee's was Shane McKay, Bryce Webber and Carter Ransom. Hunter Goodon managed to pickup 3 assists in a losing cause. Over in the Division 4 finals, Dylan Halliday scored a goal late in the 3rd period as the Source for Sports Pilgrims toppled the Double Decker Goats 4-3. The goal was Halliday's second of the game.   Also scoring for Source for Sports were Jake Thomson and Cooper MacLennan.  Mark Tremaine, Joel Cardinal-Schultz and Brenden Laquette each found the back of the net for Double Decker.

Matt Calvert continues to assist local area charities. Earlier today Matt and Courtney Calvert teamed with Tony Vasilarakis from Pizza Express & Submarine for the benefit of families at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon.  Collectively they have purchased 8 Wheat Kings Season Tickets to be given away to families for the upcoming season.  Calvert recently signed a 3-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche after several successful seasons in Columbus with the Blue Jackets.  Earlier this summer, the second annual Matt Calvert Charity Shootout Golf Tournament raised over $40,000 for KidSport Westman.

Imagine 2000 of the best shooters in the world coming to a small place in Illinois called Sparta and having to even compete at that level? No big deal for Vincent Massey grad Pat Lamont of Brandon whom at the age of 33 has done what nobody in Canada has done and becomes a world champion. The Grand American shooting championship has been held in Sparta since 1900 (picture Minnedosa as a comparison). Lamont competed hitting 986 out of 1000 targets throughout the week-long competition in taking home the gold. “I started when I was 12" said Lamont..."my dad would shoot and let me try it out.” His father Rob Lamont used to be the owner of Jo – Brook Outdoors so this was a natural fit. Lamont said you can own a $500 or $40,000 gun it doesn’t matter. Other than being a household name in Trap Shooting, Pat is also the President of the Brandon Gun Club. “We have guns here for people to try the sport and we are willing to help get more people involved." added Pat. The Brandon Gun club is just south of Brandon and open Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sundays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Grand American Results http://www.shootata.com/AboutUs/GrandAmerican/2018GrandResults.aspx Brandon Gun Club Website http://www.manitobatrapshooting.com/brandon.html

Brian Elder, a former goaltender with the Brandon Wheat Kings from 1994-97, has been named the Head Scout for the Virden Oil Capitals.  He has been working as a scout within the organization for the past 4-years. Daniel Bukac has found himself a new home with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs.  Bukac had spent the the past two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings prior to being dropped just before the CHL’s 2018 import draft. Quintin Lisoway has signed with the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL.  Lisoway had spent the past two seasons skating with the University of Manitoba Bisons hockey program, after having graduated from the junior ranks. The Dauphin Kings have named Mitch Topinka as an Assistant Coach for the upcoming season.  Topinka spent last season with the OCN Blizzard and will join new Kings head coach Doug Hedley behind the bench.