Game 45 - Brandon Wheat Kings - Preview
This will be the final meeting with the Wheat Kings in the 2011-12 regular season. The Warriors have faced the Wheat Kings on six occasions this season. The first meeting was the Mosaic Place home opener, which the Wheat Kings spoiled the celebration with a 4-1 win. The Warriors would extract some revenge taking the next two meetings with a combined 12-7 score, (4-3 and 8-4). Cody Beach had big night in the 8-4 victory collecting 4 points (2G,2A). In his first game as a Warrior Justin Kirsch notched a pair of goals. Dallas Ehrhardt recorded three helpers in that game as well for the Warriors. In the November back-to-back games, the last time these two teams faced off, Moose Jaw won 7-6 and 4-3. In first meeting, Quinton Howden registered four assists and Andrew Johnson had a pair of goals. The next night, Nov.26, rookie Eric Arnold scored the GWG just past the midway point of the third.
The Warriors are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. Moose Jaw has the second most wins on home ice with 17-3 and a road record of 8-11-2. When leading after the first period the Warriors are now 15-1-2. That unblemished record was broken by the Hitmen Friday night. When the Warriors outshoot their opponent they have a 14-6-2 record. The Warriors are 16-4-4 in one goal games. The Warriors have the 12th ranked power play (21.1%) and the nineth best penalty killing (80.2%) in the league. The Warriors have played in 10 overtime games (collecting 15 points) tied for most in the WHL, only the Red Deer Rebels have played in as many.
Cam Braes scored his first goal as a Warrior last night in Medicine Hat; he also added an assist to record a two-point night. Braes' goal was the 100th of his WHL career. James Henry, the other new addition to the Warriors is just shy of a couple WHL milestones. Henry needs just 16 points to reach 200 in his career. As well Henry needs to appear in just 17 games to have played in 300 WHL regular season games.
The second of two matches in Alberta saw the Warriors take on the Tigers in Medicine Hat. The Warriors tied the game on three separate occasions, but fell 6-3. Cam Braes scored his first goal as a Warrior, his 100th goal of his WHL career. Hitting the road once again had the Warriors travel west to face the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Warriors just out to a quick lead, when Shayne Gwinner's point shot found the back of the net. The Hitmen answered with five, before Travis Brown made the game 5-2. The Warriors ended of an eight game road trip with a 3-2 win over the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook. Tanner Eberle lit the lamp twice, including the game-winner early in the third.
With six game-winning goals, Cam Braes is tied for the WHL lead. Eric Arnold’s 18, Tanner Eberle 16, and Carter Hansen's 15 points has them in amongst the league rookie scoring leaders. Kenton Miller has four insurance goals, is tied for third in the WHL. Luke Siemens has the tied for fifth best GAA (2.59) and fifth with 21 wins and eighth with a .909 save percentage in the WHL.
Tonight against Brandon is the final game of a three game set for the Warriors. The Warriors welcome the relocated WHL franchise, Victoria Royals to Mosaic for their only visit of the year. The game is a mid-week game Wednesday night puck drop is the usual 7 p.m. The Kootenay Ice roll into the Moose Jaw on Friday night to face the Warriors for the final time in the regular season. The Warriors then end the weekend on Saturday night in Regina taking on the Pats in a crucial divisional game.
Catch all of tonight`s action along with every Warriors game live on Country100 and the voice of the Warriors James Gallo. As well, our Facebook and Twitter pages will be providing live updates, scores, stats, and other stuff throughout the games. If you want to watch the games go to the WHL Live site to stream the games http://whl.neulion.com/whl/
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