The ECHL's Rapid City Rush recently named former Brandon Wheat King Tyler Coulter their 2020 recipient of the Blaine Jarvis “Heart and Soul Award”. The honor "is awarded annually “to the Rush player that best exemplifies the qualities of Blaine Jarvis both on and off the ice: professionalism, perseverance, determination, commitment to the game, work ethic, and excellence in both the locker room and community.” Jarvis, a one-time player for the Rush, passed away in an accident on January 31, 2016. Coulter received the honor, the organization’s highest individual honor, for his efforts on the ice and in the community, He finished he season with 39 points in 47 games and participated in many community events throughout the season. Another Brandonite, Josh Elmes won the award back in 2018.

The end-of-season North American rankings in the NHL’s Central Scouting report was released earlier this week. Tristen Robins, who played the majority of his minor hockey in Brandon, ended up being listed as the 86th overall prospect among North American skaters. It should be noted that in the mid-term rankings Robins had been listed 134th among North American skaters. A strong 2nd half to his WHL season helped him move up in the rankings. Prior to the season coming to an abrupt end, the speedy 18 year old centreman registered 73 points in 62 games with the Saskatoon Blades. Robins credits a number of factors for his increased point production in 2019/20 including additional ice time and the work he put in over the summer months. "Losing our top player Kirby Dach gave me more of a key role on the team and I thrived in that position having nearly two points per game in the second half. My biggest improvements would be my board play, one on one play, one on one battles, and my skating. And this improved because of my intense training programs that I had done in the summer. I really worked hard on my metal side of the game to bring the right mindset and intensity for consistent game play day in and day out. Not letting my highs get to high and my lows too low. Robins, who lists the Pittsburgh Penguins as his favorite team and Sidney Crosby as his favorite player, obviously would love to hear his name called at this year's draft. "It has been a lifelong dream of mine to not only have my name called at the draft, but for whoever believes in my ability to eventually help lead the team to a Stanley cup" said Robins. "Looking back to the western league draft and how much it meant to me having my name called back then only gave me a slight glimpse of what it would be like to be called in the NHL draft" "Even if my name isn’t called, I will be going to a camp with a mindset to prove everyone wrong and outshine anyone who has been taken higher than me. The draft is amazing, but it is only to me seen as the next steps to my professional career, as I know it is a mountain of work Ahead of me to get to my goal of playing in the NHL, to which I truly look forward to." For many players their draft year can add a significant amount of stress and pressure throughout the course of a season. "I didn’t put any more pressure on myself, I was super excited for the challenge and new it was going to be a big year personally as well as a big year for the team.  I have really great family support and have been raised to not worry about the future and to stay In the present time and to live and play in the moment. The future will take care of itself as long as I take care of business during the present. I only worry about things that are in my control, that is my attitude and work ethic." said Robins. When asked what he feels he needs to work on to take his game to the next level Robins told bdnmb.ca "I feel that I need to work on rounding out my defensive zone play by also improving my stick position. Knowing that I can be a game changer I want to be more consistent at being the driver on my line." The draft was originally slated to take place in Montreal (June 26-27) and has since been postponed with the location, timing and format for the Draft to be confirmed. While Robins waits to hear whether or not his name will be called, he will be keeping himself busy this off-season preparing for his future. "I do one on one on ice skill training at the Rink facility in Winnipeg with Seth Jarvis working on everything from shooting, stick handling, skating, and edge work. As well as being trained personally by the trainers of testify performance upstairs. As soon as I am allowed, I will be on the ice 4-5 times a week and training 5-6 days a week. I am currently training everyday until I am allowed to go into Winnipeg."

As voted upon by WHL General Managers., two members of the Brandon Wheat Kings were named to the Eastern Conference First All-Star team for the for the 2019-20 WHL season. WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team Goaltender – Jiri Patera (Praha, Czech Republic) – Brandon Wheat Kings Defenceman – Calen Addison (Brandon, Man.) – Lethbridge Hurricanes Defenceman – Braden Schneider (Prince Albert, Sask.) – Brandon Wheat Kings Forward – Dylan Cozens (Whitehorse, Yukon) – Lethbridge Hurricanes Forward – James Hamblin (Edmonton, Alta.) – Medicine Hat Tigers Forward – Aliaksei Protas (Vitebsk, Belarus) – Prince Albert Raiders The National Hockey League Central Scouting Service announced their Final Rankings for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft and three Brandon Wheat Kings were listed. The final list included: Braden Schneider (9th), Ridly Greig (14th) and Ben McCartney (153rd) among North American Skaters. The draft was originally slated to take place in Montreal (June 26-27) and has since been postponed with the location, timing and format for the Draft to be confirmed.

The 2020 WHL Bantam Draft is scheduled to take place online on Wednesday, April 22. Currently, Calder Crossin and Carter Dittmer remain the only two Brandon ranked prospects (Western Elite Hockey Prospects) entering this year's draft. As of March 16th, Crossin was ranked 83rd while Dittmer checked in at number 133 among the 231 ranked prospects. The pair were teammates this past season on the Bantam AAA Wheat Kings which competed in the Winnipeg AAA Bantam 1 Division (WPG B1). Crossin, a defensemen, registered 49 points in 36 games on the strength of 12 goals and 37 assists. In a recent interview with WEHP, Crossin stated "Draft day will be an exciting day for a lot of great players and their families. If I get the chance to hear my name called, that would be really special." Dittmer, a forward, managed to score 42 goals in 33 games, He also chipped in with 20 assists. His 42 goals left him tied for 5th overall in final regular season goal scoring in league play. According to the report, Parkland Rangers Brayden Dube is Manitoba's top rated prospect at number 19. Dube tore up the league offensively this season racking up a whopping 130 points in just 36 games. Ranger teammates Kyan Grouette (63), Aiden Ziprick (94) and Carter Zalischuk (175) were also included among the 231 players ranked. The Brandon Wheat Kings have the 13th overall selection at this year's draft for players born in 2005.

Goaltender Jiri Patera was yesterday's big winner as the Brandon Wheat Kings dished out their team rewards for the season.  The 20-year old received four awards including being named the hockey club’s Meighen Haddad LLP Most Valuable Player, the Art Marshall Memorial Trophy winner for being chosen the Top Graduating Player, the Canad Inns 3 Stars winner as well as the Shoppers Drug Mart Fans Choice. Other award winners: Keystone Centre’s Most Sportsmanlike Player Award: Vincent Iorio Maggie Janz Scholastic Player: Vincent Iorio Mike Adamski Hardest Working Player: Braden Schneider  Brad McCrimmon Memorial Trophy for the Top Defenceman: Braden Schneider Brandon Sun Scoring Champion – Luka Burzan MNP Rookie of the Year Award – Jake Chiasson Manitoba Hydro Turk Broda Award – Top Manitoban – Ben McCartney UCT Dennis Truscott Award – Most Improved Player – Ridly Greig Coca-Cola Rob Stouffer Award – Most Inspirational Player – Marcus Sekundiak Precision Toyota Unsung Hero Award – Dom Schmeimann McDonald’s Frank King Trophy – Most Community Minded Player – Connor Gutenberg, Lyndon McCallum. This year marked the first time that players have shared the prestigious Frank King award.