Without a doubt one of the youngest executives in the WHL this season will be 30 year old Brandon product, (I sound like Luber a bit) Mickey McCrimmon. Mick’s hockey career has featured stops in the MJHL, SJHL, BCHL, NCAA and CIS. Today he was announced as the Wheat Kings new Assistant GM working along with Grant Armstrong who was also annouced the new GM. We had a moment to talk to Mick today about this new role. BDNMB – Mick was this kind of a shock to you at all? Mickey – No not really at all I spoke to dad earlier in the spring about working in some capacity. For the last three years I have attended league meetings and seen the business side. Since the spring obviously the role has expanded. BDNMB – What is your immediate role? Mickey – To get the know the league as good as possible, plus all our prospects. BDNMB – Was the plan in the spring and today totally different? Mickey – No, not really. I was basically going to do lots of the same except I would have my dad being my mentor. New Wheat Kings Assitant GM, Mikey McCrimmon, with his father Kelly after winning the 2016 WHL Championship.  Photo:  Brandon Wheat Kings Hockey Club BDNMB – One thing I marvel at is the scouts that have a love for the game watching 220 – 240 games a season like Mike Fraser and others, will you be doing the same? Mickey – No I will be at as many home games as possible and AAA Bantam and major tournaments and doing lots of travel around the league. BDNMB – Will you have a special hotline to call Kelly before pulling the trigger on a deal? Mickey – No dad will be respectful of the boundaries of the league, so Grant and myself are doing this full time, and it is our decision. However we will still rely on all our coaches and scouts to make decisions... it is done by committee. BDNMB – I saw a line on a college hockey ad that said Talent Gets You Noticed ….. Character Gets You Recruited would this be the same for the Wheat Kings and the WHL? Mickey – You have to be such a complete person today to be become a pro...the standard is so high and how your treat your body and off ice to how you cultivate yourself as a person. BDNMB – Predictions for the Wheat Kings this season? Mickey – We still have Duke and Kaspick and Patrick and Jordan will be one of the best goalies in the league so we have potential for a very good season.   Best of luck Mick from all of us at BDNMB.CA

Brooke Henderson’s name was not a household name two years ago. However lots can change in two years. Same could go for 15 year old Hayley Shanks from Brandon who shot 95 today at the Tamarack to become the Junior Women’s Medalist. Shanks felt she played well, her driver and short game were good, but her putter did let her down...“the greens just got faster as the day went along”. Hayley has now been in the Tamarack for 5 years and plans to play for as long as she can. Henderson a mentor of sorts for Shanks as she hopes one day to aspire to her levels of success. “ She started really young and has done so much for female golf” said Shanks. When we asked her what are the long term goals and she said “love to be able to play NCAA one day". At this pace I am sure when she will have plenty of schools to pick from in the next few years.

Branden Crowe will be your new play by play announcer for the Brandon Wheat King radio broadcasts on CKLQ for 2016-17 starting on September the 9th. Branden comes to CKLQ having spent last season as the Marketing Manger with the Virden Oil Caps of the MJHL. Prior to working in Virden he had spent time in Melfort with the Mustangs of the SJHL as their play by play announcer on CK750 AM. Branden hails from Boissevain, MB and is a graduate of Assiniboine Community College in 2011. He replaces Bruce Luebke who had previously held the job for the past 23 seasons.

A group of talented Brandon athletes are currently in Roanoke, Virginia participating in the Special Olympics North American Softball Championship. The Brandon Comets are comprised of 12 players, 11 from Brandon and 1 from Killarney, and are one of only two Canadian teams playing in this years championships. More than 450 athletes, comprising 32 traditional and Unified Sports teams from across the United States and Canada are participating in the 3-day event. Competition started earlier today with medal games going on Sunday the 21st. The Comets Daryn Thomson clubbed a 3-run homer today in the teams first game. Final score of that game was not immediately available. Brandon Comets Team Roster: Rodney Long (Brandon) Robert Long (Brandon) Jason Norminton (Brandon) Blaine Smithson (Brandon) Matthew Tweed (Killarney) Richard Marks (Brandon) Jeff Gardiner (Brandon) Craig McLaren (Brandon) Scott Beggs (Brandon) Trent Gussie (Brandon) Daryn Thomson (Brandon) Douglas Unger (Brandon) Coaches: Warren Day (Brandon) Karlie Skibo (Brandon) Sandy Skibo (Brandon) Bryan McCorrister (Portage)

Courtesy:  Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon, MB. – With Training Camp set to begin in less than two weeks, the reigning Western Hockey League Champion Brandon Wheat Kings have named their coaching staff for the 2016-17 season. 30-year old Winnipeg native David Anning replaces Kelly McCrimmon, who recently accepted the Assistant General Manager’s position of the new National Hockey League franchise in Las Vegas. McCrimmon will remain Owner and Governor of the club that announced a major restructuring to its Hockey Operations on Thursday. Joining Anning on the bench this season will be longtime coach and fellow Winnipegger Don McGillivray and former WHL All Star defenceman Aaron Rome. Former assistant coach Darren Ritchie meanwhile becomes the Wheat Kings’ new Director of Scouting and Tyler Plante rejoins the organization as the club’s Goaltending Coach. Anning joined the Wheat Kings in 2012-13 after spending six seasons in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Winnipeg Saints, Dauphin Kings and Steinbach Pistons. After helping the Kings win the Anavat Cup as an Assistant Coach, he took over as Head Coach and General Manager of the Winnipeg Saints. “I’m very thankful for the opportunity offered to me by Kelly,” says Anning, who coached Team West on two occasions at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge. “It goes without saying that this is a very proud and storied franchise and I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with great players and staff for the past four seasons in Brandon.” “I value the philosophy and loyalty that is engrained throughout the organization and I’m very excited for the challenge that lies ahead,” added Anning, who played four seasons with the MJHL’s Saints. “I am happy for David to get this opportunity,” says McCrimmon. “He is an excellent young coach, has great experience and embodies what we stand for and believe in.” McGillivray arrives in Brandon with a wealth of coaching experience, having served behind the bench in the MJHL with Portage, Neepawa, St. James and the Winnipeg Blues, the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders as well as three seasons with the University of Manitoba Bisons. He joins the Wheat Kings after spending the past seven seasons with the Blues, where he served as Head Coach and General Manager. In addition to leading the Blues to the 2014 MJHL Title, his Terriers captured the 2005 Championship. McGillivray was named the League’s Top Coach in 1995, 2005, 2012 and 2013. Last season his Blues finished fifth with a 32-18-10 record and lost out in the Semi-Finals. A 32-year old native of Nesbitt, Manitoba, Rome is a 5-year WHL veteran, having scored 31 goals and 155 points in 304 games during a career that saw him play in Saskatoon, Kootenay, Swift Current and Moose Jaw. A fourth round draft choice of the Los Angeles Kings in 2002, Rome played several seasons in the National Hockey League, scoring six goals, 28 points and 185 minutes in penalties in 226 career games. A member of the 2007 Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks, Rome also played in Columbus, Vancouver and Dallas, where he played his final season on hockey in 2013-14. Selected in the second round by the Florida Panthers in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Plante played three seasons with the Wheat Kings, beginning in 2004-05, when he was chosen the League’s Top Rookie. A Brandon product, Plante is currently tied with Jordan Papirny for first place on the club’s All Time list with twelve shutouts, including six during his first year in Brandon. Plante, who played the last three years in Europe, spent six seasons in the ECHL and American Hockey Leagues and as a Wheat King, he compiled an average of 2.89 in 162 career games. He replaces Matt Cockell, who currently serves as Vice President of Corporate Sponsorships for True North Sports and Entertainment in Winnipeg. “I’m very excited to have Don, Aaron and Tyler joining the staff,” says Brandon’s new head coach. “I feel these are very capable individuals who share similar views when it comes to developing players and people. I feel the staff will complement each other very well and each coach will work hard to help our players reach their potential and continue to develop.” A 9-year veteran of the Wheat Kings’ organization, Ritchie has served as an assistant to coaches Cory Clouston, Kelly McCrimmon and Dwayne Gylywoychuk. Following his junior career that saw him named to the 1995 Eastern Conference First All Star Team and capture the Brad Hornung Trophy as the league’s Most Sportsmanlike Player, he spent nine seasons playing professional hockey in both North America and Europe. As Director of Scouting, Ritchie will be responsible for coordinating the club’s scouting staff, overseeing all WHL and minor hockey scouting operations, assisting the development of the Wheat Kings’ 50-man Player Protected List and the recruitment of prospective players. “I’m really excited about this opportunity,” says Ritchie, who scored 152 goals (7th most in franchise history) and 278 points in 232 career games. “I am really looking forward to working with our strong staff of scouts in both identifying talent and the development of our young prospects.” “Darren is a real good hockey man,” says McCrimmon. “He loves scouting and for a few years now saw this as his next step. He will do a great job in this area and will still remain involved in all facets of Hockey Operations.” Meanwhile the hockey club announced the hiring of Athletic Therapist Chris Trivieri. A 27-year old from Welland, Ontario, Trivieri has spent the past two seasons with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. A Physical Education graduate from Brock University in 2012, he also graduated from Sheridan College with an Honours BSC in Athletic Therapy this year. The new Wheat Kings’ coaching staff will now spend the next twelve days preparing for what should be an exciting, competitive Training Camp, scheduled to get underway at Westman Communications Group Place on August 30th. Among the players that will be attending is 17-year old Daniel Bukac from the Czech Republic. The 6’4” 175 lb defenceman was Brandon’s second selection in June’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. In 38 games with Chomutov U18 Juniors last season, he scored three goals and 15 points. In other news from Thursday’s media reception at the Canad Inns – 2016-17 Season Tickets have surpassed the 2,000 mark and are up slightly from last year at this point. Meanwhile the WHL Champions provided more details on a number of special events and initiatives to take place during the club’s 50th Anniversary season. Among them – western Manitoba hockey fans will have a chance to select the Wheat Kings All Time Team. A committee, made up of members of the local hockey community, media and fans, will determine the top fifty and fans will be able to go online and vote for their choice of two goaltenders, six defencemen and 12 forwards. Voting will begin in late September. Brandon will open up defence of its WHL Title with a home and home series with Moose Jaw during the weekend of September 23rd-24th.