You have seen the WCHA logo on billboards, bus benches and vehicles and you ask yourself what is that? Basically it comes down a mixture of school and hockey training. WCHA Hockey is offering people a “Spend A Day” to see if this program is a good fit for the player and the family. High School classes and Middle School High Classes are offered at WCHA and students can join the program mid-year. When you attend WCHA each day will consist of classroom academic learning and hockey specific on and off ice skill training .   The school is open to both female and male players. This program is not funded by the Province of Manitoba therefore players will have to pay a tuition to be part of WCHA.   The cost is reasonable compared to programs that compete in the CSSHL league throughout Western Canada. Of note WCHA does have a very specific goalie program and training for the up and coming young goaltender. One interesting fact is players will in the evenings play regular hockey with their club teams. This is only the second season for WCHA Hockey and year one had 6 WCHA trained players get drafted into the WHL plus 6 players named to Team Manitoba for the 2022 Program of Excellence. Five full time hockey specific trainers are on staff including the likes of Tyler Dittmer ( Former Wheat King ), Ty Lewis ( NHL signed / Colorado Avalanche and Hockey Canade Trained Skills Instructor ), Tyson Verhelst ( WHL Goalie / Spokane Chiefs ), Jessica Scott ( Hockey Canada Certified Skills instructor ) , and former BU Bobacat Dave Lewis. Dave Lewis has been training players in Brandon during the summer months for over 20 years and brings a high level of skill and passion to WCHA and their players. Many current and former NHL players such as Zach Whitecloud,  Calen Addison,  Michael Ferland along with numerous WHL players have trained with Dave over the years. WCHA Hockey is based out of the new J & G Homes Arena in the south end of Brandon.https://wchahockey.ca/academy/

The Brandon Wheat Kings Bantam AAA squad won all 6 games played over the weekend in Regina en route to capturing the prestigious Graham Tuer U15 Challenge. Nolan Saunderson (2), Jonah Lemoine (1) & Ethan Stanley (1) scored for the Wheat Kings in Sunday's 4-3 championship matchup against the Humboldt Broncos. Cole Dupuis tallied 3 assists while Urijah Moosetail registered 47-saves to pickup the win in net. It was the first time on 22-years that a team from Brandon has won the championship. "The Graham Tuer U15 Challenge is one of the largest U15 hockey tournaments in Western Canada." A total of 32 teams took part in the tournament this year including teams from Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw & Okotoks.

Three members of the Brandon Wheat Kings were named on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list Tuesday. Goaltender Carson Bjarnason, forward Nate Danielson received an A-Rating. Forward Rylen Roersma received a C-Rating. Bjarnason (6-3, 186) is 6-2-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average, .945 save percentage and one shutout in nine games. He leads WHL goalies with 310 saves. Central scouting had positive things to say about the Wheat Kings goaltender. “He’s very focused and determined with very good quickness, especially in reactions, recovery and lateral play,” said Al Jensen of Central Scouting. “He’s got good overall net coverage and has good pro potential.” Danielson (6’1, 185) after starting the season with only 2 points in his first 4 games at home, is back on track after scoring 3 goals and 10 assists during the 8 game road trip. Roersma (5’11, 185) was previously invited to Colorado Avalanche’s development camp last Summer. The Lethbridge, Alberta native came in as a C Rated prospect and has potential to be a over age draft pick next Spring. NHL Central Scouting identifies players with a rating system that includes four categories. The ‘A’ rating indicates players projected to be first-round candidates. The ‘B’ rating indicates players projected to be second- or third-round candidates, and the ‘C’ rating indicates players projected to be fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round candidates. The ‘LV’ rating represents a player who has not had sufficient viewings, due to injury. Seven WHL players earned ‘A’ ratings: Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard, Winnipeg ICE forward Zach Benson, Brandon Wheat Kings teammates Carson Bjarnason and Noah Danielson, Prince George Cougars forward Riley Heidt, Vancouver Giants forward Samuel Honzek and Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager. A further 12 WHL players were given ‘B’ ratings, including Kelowna Rockets teammates Andrew Cristall and Caden Price, Red Deer Rebels forward Kalan Lind and Seattle Thunderbirds pair Scott Ratzlaff and Gracyn Sawchyn. 23 WHL players earned ‘C’ ratings, while one WHL player received an ‘LV’ rating. Overall, 21 of the 22 WHL Clubs are represented in the ‘Players to Watch’ List. The Vancouver Giants boast five players on the list to lead all WHL Clubs. The Brandon Wheat Kings, Kamloops Blazers, Moose Jaw Warriors, Portland Winterhawks and Saskatoon Blades have three players listed. Seven WHL Clubs are represented with two players on the list, while eight further WHL Clubs have a single player on NHL Central Scouting’s list. A total of 25 WHL forwards find themselves on the list, joined by 12 WHL defencemen and six WHL goaltenders. To see the full list of rankings. CLICK HERE (Wheat Kings Release)

Earlier today Brandon's Clarke Caswell was named as one of the 66-players who will represent Canada at the upcoming 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Nov. 3-12 in Langley and Delta, B.C. Caswell, a forward, is in his first campaign with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, where he has amassed 5 points in 8 games. Canada will ice three teams in the tournament which also include teams from Czechia, Finland, Sweden and the United States. Caswell will suit up for Team Canada Black as will Boissevain's Josh Fluker. The duo are also teammates in Swift Current. Three current member's of the Brandon Wheat Kings were also named: forward Caleb Hadland (Team Canada Red),forward  Roger McQueen (Team Canada White) and defensemen Charlie Elick (Team Canada White).

Ross Sheard captured the 18th Annual Ridge Bowl title last weekend in a tournament held at the Deer Ridge Golf Course. Sheard, a first time winner of the event, shot a 72 in the qualifying round to advance to the championship flight. He then defeated Deer Ridge veteran Don Mitchell in the first round, before defeating wiley veteran Mark Shanks, 1up in the semi’s. In the finals Ross defeated 4 time Ridge Bowl Champion and this years medalist (67), David Glenn, on the sixth extra playoff hole. Speaking of Glenn, he has qualified for the Championship Flight 17 times in the 18 year history of the tournament. Additional flight winners included: Tan Pierone (4th), Justin Packo (3rd), Jordan Hagmeister (2nd) and Scott Davidson (1st). Ridge Bowl is an annual 9-hole match tournament held at Deer Ridge each fall. Included in your entry this year was the golf, prizes, a Saturday supper, and Sunday morning breakfast.