Brandon Wheat Kings News Release Brandon, MB. – As they prepare to play the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Washington tonight, the Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that veteran defenceman James Shearer has been named the Western Hockey League club’s new captain. One of three local products on this year’s club, the 20-year old Shearer replaces Tanner Kaspick, who was dealt to the Victoria Royals at last week’s WHL Trade Deadline. A former Manitoba Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year, he was also a member of the 2016 Western Hockey League Championship club and is currently in his third season with the Wheat Kings organization. Selected the Wheat Kings’ McDonalds Frank King Memorial Trophy winner as the club’s Most Community Minded Player last season.  Entering tonight’s game – the first of three in three nights this weekend – the former AAA Midget Wheat King has eleven goals, 40 points and 68 penalty minutes in 138 games for the WHL club. Brandon’s alternates for the balance of the 2017-18 campaign will be defenceman Schael Higson and forwards Stelio Mattheos, Ty Lewis, Linden McCorrister and Connor Gutenberg.

Borrowing a page out of the playbook of the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins from the 1970’s, the Rez Kings last year used a combination of toughness (Jon Mirasty, Derek Parker) and skill (Darren Reid, Ryan Pilon, Dustin Perillat) to capture the Men’s Senior Division at the Dakota Nation Winterfest’s annual hockey tournament.    This year they are returning in 2018 in hopes of repeating their championship run and capturing the $15,000 first place prize money.   In preparation for this years tournament Leighton Axelson tells bdnmb.ca "this year, we had alot more time to get this team together and everyone is looking forward to coming back."   Their final roster is still pending however they will be coming back with the same core, give or take a few guys. According to Axelson they will be looking at adding a few new guys as well prior to the tournament getting underway.  "With work, families and other commitments its always been a challenge to get all the guys together for this particular tournament" he added.  This same core of players also enters a team annually in the Oskana Cup tournament held each summer in Regina. Axelson believes that "this a great tournament and every team is capable of winning any given game so we expect an even tougher competition this year."  When asked what he felt it would take to repeat as champions in 2018 he replied "I would say we need to come into the first game with the same humble attitude and work ethic we had last year and go from there". The tournament get underway on Friday, January the 26th.  Others team competing include the Norway House Bruins, Fisher River Terriers, Peguis Mohawks, Ochapowce Thunder and a team from Animozeebeeng.

Brandon will soon have the area’s first ever indoor hitting facility as today Triple Crown Sports announced they would be opening a location in Brandon in the spring of 2018. Triple Crown Sports is dedicated to the development of young athletes across the province.  They offer a variety of camps and clinics including a pitching program.  Additional information will follow as it becomes available.

A former member of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Rob Klinkhammer, has been named to the Canadian Olympic men’s hockey roster.  Klinkhammer suited up for 28 games with the Wheat Kings back in the 2006-07 season.  He picked up 31 points in those 28 games.  Since completing of his junior career he has played in 91 NHL games including stops in Chicago, Ottawa, Phoenix and Edmonton.  He has spent the last two seasons skating the in the KHL. Also named to the team were two Manitobans, forward Quinton Howden and defenseman Chay Genoway.

Source:  Brandon Wheat Kings Twitter The Brandon Wheat Kings have dealt Tanner Kaspick and prospect Cameron MacDonald to the Victoria Royals for Ty Thorpe, Jonathon Lambos, a 1st round pick in 2019 and a 1st round pick in 2021. They have also dealt Kale Clague to the Moose Jaw Warriors for Luka Burzan, Chase Hartje a 1st round pick in 2019, a first round pick in 2021 and a 2nd round pick in 2018