Photo by Tim Smith (Brandon Sun)
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – A little home cooking was all the doctor ordered for the Brandon Wheat Kings who scored six times in their first home game in three weeks in a 6-3 win over Red Deer Friday night.
It was a fast-paced, scoreless opening period as the Brandon Wheat Kings opened a six-game homestand. Brandon found themselves in a hole early as Linden McCorrister was ejected, following a charging major.
The Wheat Kings, who started the game with 11 FWD’s were down to three lines and an extra but managed to kill off the major penalty with help from Jiri Patera who made 16 stops in the first period.
In the 2nd, the Rebels jumped out to a 2-0 lead scoring twice in just 0:11 seconds to stun the crowd at Westoba Place. Brandon Hagel hammered home a one-timer for his 13th of the year and while that goal was being announced Zak Smith bounced a puck up over the shoulder of Jiri Patera to open up a two-goal lead.
The Wheat Kings got a response from Lynden McCallum who found a rebound for his 4th of the year. The goal from the Brandonite put a charge into the Brandon bench, who then capitalized on a 5on3 opportunity. For the 9th time this season, it was Stelio Mattheos finding the back of the net on a man advantage, his 17th goal of the year tied the game at two.
Less than 2:00 minutes later, Neithan Salame took a pass in the slot and scored his first career WHL goal. The goal sent Brandon to the locker room up 3-2.
Ben McCartney, Marcus Sekundiak and Luka Burzan would add third-period goals to seal the victory, moving Brandon to 9-4-3-2 on the season.
Jiri Patera was fantastic between the pipes for Brandon, making 40 saves. The Czech import was named the game’s second star. Meanwhile, Mattheos’ 2nd-period goal was his 100th career WHL goal. He finished the night with a goal and three assists.
Next up, the Tri-City Americans on Sunday afternoon. (2:30 Manitoba time)
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
No Scoring
Shots: 16-10 Red Deer
2nd PERIOD
RD – Brandon Hagel (13) (Alexeyev, Zaitsev) 2:55
RD – Zak Smith (2) (Johnson, Sakowich) 3:06
BWK – Lynden McCallum (4) (Burzan, Schneider) 10:10
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (17) (Wytinck, Schneider) 15:26 PPG
BWK – Neithen Salame (1) (Hooker, Thompson) 17:34
Shots: 17-11 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
BWK – Marcus Sekundiak (2) (Mattheos, Reinhardt) 8:41
BWK – Ben McCartney (2) (Unassisted) 10:52
RD – Jeff De Wit (11) (Tarzwell, Alexeyev) 17:09
BWK – Luka Burzan (12) (Mattheos) 18:03 EN
Final Shots: 43-36 Red Deer
