The Wheat Kings will open the regular season on home ice with the Home Opener at Westoba Place against the Regina Pats on Friday, September 22nd, 2023. Brandon’s regular season home schedule wraps up on Awards Night with a visit from the Moose Jaw Warriors on Thursday, March 21st, 2024. The vast majority of the Wheat Kings home schedule will once again be played on Fridays and Saturdays with 21 of the 34 games falling on those days. All Wheat King home games this season will begin at 7:00 PM, with the exception of the annual Remembrance Day game on November 11th, that will see the Regina Pats take on the Wheat Kings at 3pm. The club was also able to secure a Louis Riel Day (Family Day) game once again on Monday, February 19th vs the Saskatoon Blades, that game will begin at 2pm.  There are two Sundays on the schedule this year with the first against the Prince Albert Raiders at 2pm on January 14th. The second Sunday comes a week after on January 21st vs the Medicine Hat Tigers, that contest will be held at 4pm. Here’s a look at the Wheat Kings full 2023-24 home schedule: Friday, September 22nd vs Regina Pats Wednesday, September 27th vs Prince Albert Raiders Saturday, September 30th vs Swift Current Broncos Wednesday, October 4th vs Swift Current Broncos Saturday, October 7th vs Calgary Hitmen Thursday, October 26th vs Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday, October 28th vs Saskatoon Blades Wednesday, November 1st vs Prince George Cougars Saturday, November 11th vs Regina Pats Friday, November 17th vs Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday, November 18th vs Medicine Hat Tigers Friday, December 1st vs Regina Pats Tuesday, December 5th vs Red Deer Rebels Friday, December 8th vs Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday, December 9th vs Kamloops Blazers Wednesday, December 13th vs Kelowna Rockets Saturday, December 16th vs Moose Jaw Warriors Wednesday, December 27th vs Regina Pats Friday, December 29th vs Saskatoon Blades Saturday, January 6th vs  Vancouver Giants Tuesday, January 9th vs Victoria Royals Friday, January 12th vs Swift Current Broncos Sunday, January 14th vs Prince Albert Raiders Saturday, January 20th vs Lethbridge Hurricanes Sunday, January 21st vs Medicine Hat Tigers Friday, February 2nd vs Red Deer Rebels Wednesday, February 7th vs Edmonton Oil Kings Friday, February 9th vs Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday, February 16th vs Calgary Hitmen Monday, February 19th vs Saskatoon Blades Friday, March 1st vs Prince Albert Raiders Saturday, March 2nd vs Saskatoon Blades Saturday, March 16th vs Prince Albert Raiders Thursday, March 21st vs Moose Jaw Warriors

According to Elite Prospects, former Brandon Wheat Kings forwards Nolan Ritchie & Calder Anderson are headed to Italy to continue their hockey careers. The web site indicates the duo have signed with Meran, a team in the Alps Hockey League. Ritchie spent his entire WHL career with the Brandon Wheat Kings finishing as team captain in his final season. Anderson started his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors prior to joining the Wheat Kings in the 2022-23 season. View this post on Instagram   A post shared by HC Merano (@hc_merano)

The City of Brandon has been officially named host community for the 2024 Active Aging in Manitoba 55 Plus Games.  The announcement was made yesterday at the 2023 event in Portage la Prairie. Scheduled to take place June 18 – 20, 2024, more than a thousand athletes from all across Manitoba will gather in Brandon to participate in the largest multi-sport event in the province.  The annual 55 Plus Games will run for the 41st year offering age-friendly competition in over 25 events ranging from Cribbage and Scrabble to Pickleball and Slo-Pitch.  The games are open to anyone 55 years of age or older and will often see participants who are well into their 90’s. Seniors for Seniors Brandon and Brandon First worked collaboratively on a successful bid for the 2024 Games and will continue to partner with local participants in forming the host committee. “[The] announcement that the 55+ Plus Games will be hosted in Brandon in 2024 is extremely exciting.  This will have such a huge impact in Brandon for our aging population, and we are pleased to be working with the hosting committee to help implement [it],” stated Rob Lavin, Executive Director of Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc, “Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. continues to maintain and improve the quality of life for older adults in Brandon by providing opportunities that enable and encourage optimal independent living. We would like to congratulate Brandon First for their dedication in ensuring that the 55+ Games return in 2024.” Active Aging in Manitoba coordinates these games as a celebration of healthy living and proof that Manitobans of all ages can lead active, engaged and healthy lives.  The games emphasize recreational activities combined with social and cultural experiences. “Active Aging in Manitoba is very excited to have the MB 55+ Games returning to Brandon in 2024.  We are very grateful to the Brandon host committee for their commitment and look forward to supporting their efforts to ensure another successful Manitoba 55+ Games!” says Linda Brown, Executive Director for the organization. Brandon First, the destination marketing organization for Brandon that works to bring event hosting opportunities to the city is proud to provide guidance and support to the local host committee for the 2024 games.  Executive Director, Jennifer Watson says “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the Manitoba 55+ Games back to Brandon. It was such a great experience in 2016 and this event brings such a wide cross section of competitors to our community so we’re very excited to show off our hospitality and hosting abilities to this group once again in 2024.” Active Aging in Manitoba has a comprehensive 55 Plus Games Website that will have further information posted as we move closer to the 2024 event for anyone who interested in being involved. https://activeagingmb.ca/55games/

A pair of players, Jaxon Jacobson & Nolan Saunderson, who played minor hockey in Brandon last season were recently announced to the Male U16 Summer Development Camp roster.  The camp, July 19 – 22, 2023, will be the third phase of five in the Hockey Manitoba Male U16 Program of Excellence and will include practices and games, as well as team meetings and team building events. Jacobson spent last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings U-18 AAA team where he amassed 60 points in 44 regular season games. He was selected in the 1st round, 5th overall in the in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft by the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Spokane Chiefs used the 90th overall (5th round) to select blueliner Nolan Saunderson. Saunderson picked up 28 points in 31 games this past season with the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA squad.

The Westman Heat U17 AA softball team headed to Winnipeg, Buhler Field, over the weekend to participate in the U17AA showcase tournament and returned home with a championship title in their possession. They finished the round robin sporting a 2-2 record, as noted below. Lost Eastman 12-7 Lost Central 7-4 Win Bonni Vital 18-6 Win Northwest Reapers 6-1 In semi-final the Heat toppled Central Charge 9-7 before a highly anticipated rematch with Eastman in the championship game. The Heat turned the tables on Eastman in the tournament final with a convincing 9-3 victory.