Wheat Kings Trim Pre-Season Roster

The Wheat Kings released nine players following Sunday's intrasquad game including 15-year old defenceman Colton Waltz, the club's first pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

Also released Sunday were defencemen Tanner Jago and Brett Blatz and forwards Taylor Wells, Bryn Chyzyk, Cody Nelson, Austin Lewis, Brendan Harms and Warren Callis.

The moves leave Brandon with 35 players on their pre-season roster -- five goaltenders, 12 defencemen and 18 forwards.

The Wheat Kings' first pre-season game is Friday in Regina.

Wheat Kings Pre-Season Roster
(Age in parentheses)

Goaltenders (5)
*Corbin Boes (17)
Jacob De Serres (20)
Andrew Hayes (20)
*Liam Liston (17)
*Ty Rimmer (18)

Defencemen (12)
Darren Bestland (20)
*Josh Elmes (17)
*Jordan Fransoo (17)
*Spencer Galbraith (17)
*Rene Hunter (17)
*Kyle Krzyzaniak (18)
*Dylan Kuczek (16)
Brodie Melnychuk (19)
Ryley Miller (18)
*Ryan Pulock (16)
*Eric Roy (16)
Mark Schneider (20)

Forwards (18)
*Daniel Asham (16)
Paul Ciarelli (19)
*Dakota Conroy (16)
Mike Ferland (18)
*Jon Gaudet (18)
Scott Glennie (19)
*Wheaton King (18)
*Jens Meilleur (17)
*Mark Mieritz (19)
*Carter Proft (16)
Brayden Schenn (19)
*Tyrel Seaman (16)
Jesse Sinatynski (18)
Mark Stone (18)
*Jason Swyripa (17)
*David Toews (20)
Brenden Walker (18)
Shayne Wiebe (20)

* - denote rookie.

Stone's Hat-Trick Leads White to Win

Mark Stone's hat-trick led Team White to a 5-4 victory over Team Black at the Wheat Kings' annual intrasquad game on Sunday afternoon.

Scott Glennie added a goal and two assists and Shayne Wiebe had four helpers as the line combined for eleven points.

"Yeah, those last two games we seemed to play really well," says Stone, who also had an assist in the contest, "We generated quite a bit of offence, skated really well...it looked like we've been playing together for a while."

Stone is expected to fill a void on one of the Wheat Kings' top two lines in 2010-2011 and developing chemistry early with Glennie and Wiebe could be a could sign for Brandon.

"I want to play a big-time role this year," says Stone, "People are questioning us right away, and I don't see why. I think we have a great base coming back and I think we can compete with anyone in the league."

Stone was selected by Ottawa in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and will leave for the Senators' Rookie Camp on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Jens Meilleur also scored for Team White on Sunday while David Toews, Brett Blatz, Daniel Asham and Brayden Schenn scored for Team Black.

As far as the goaltending was concerned, Andrew Hayes stopped 20 of 22 shots in the first 31 minutes for Team White with Corbin Boes then stopping 11 of 13 shots the rest of the way
Jacob De Serres stopped 15 of 18 shots over the first 31 minutes for Team Black with Ty Rimmer then blocking 13 of 15 shots the rest of the way.

The Wheat Kings were expected to release several players on Sunday evening as they par down their pre-season roster.

Brandon's first pre-season game will be Friday in Regina.

Chaff...LW Michael Ferland (knee) and G Liam Liston (groin) both sat out Sunday's intrasquad game...there were two scraps during Sunday's contest, a second period tilt between rookies Spencer Galbraith and Cody Nelson and a third period fight between blueliners Josh Elmes and Dylan Kuczek...former Wheat Kings' captain Ryan Craig, who makes his off-season home in Brandon, was one of the coaches for the victorious Team White.

Sinatynski Looking for Larger Role

Training camp means a lot of different things, and for the second-year Wheat King players, it's a chance to show you're ready for more responsibility.

Jesse Sinatynski appeared in just 27 games with the Wheat Kings last season, notching seven goals and 10 points in the process.

"There are a bunch of spots open this year, and whoever wants those spots more is going to get them," says Sinatynski, "I'd like a little bit of a bigger role, second or third line this year, that's what I'm hoping for."

Sinatynski role with the Wheat Kings in 2010-2011 will be defined more clearly as we get closer to September 24 and the start of the regular season.

But the game plan for the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta product to earning more responsibility is fairly simple.

"You have to go 110 per cent every skate," says Sinatynski, "Just go as hard as you can and you'll get those spots if you're up to them."

Camp concludes Sunday afternoon with the annual intrasquad game (2:00 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place)

In other camp news...

- second-year forward Michael Ferland hurt his knee and sat at last night's scrimmage. Ferland will leave for the Calgary Flames' rookie camp on Tuesday.

- Goaltender Liam Liston was off the ice for the second straight day Saturday because of a groin pull.

- the Wheat Kings reduced their training camp roster to 44 players on Saturday afternoon, mainly by sending all but one of their '95-born (15-year old) players home. The club still has 24 forwards, 15 defencemen and five goaltenders in camp.

- four unlisted players remain in camp including 17-year old defenceman Brett Blatz, who was originally chosen in the ninth round of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft by Spokane. Blatz had one goal and 12 points in 44 games with Beardy's of the Saskatchewan AAA Midget Hockey League last season. Other unlisted players still with the Wheat Kings include 18-year old forwards Jon Gaudet, Taylor Wells and Bryn Chyzyk.

Wheat Kings Main Camp Roster
(Age in parentheses)

Goaltenders (5)
*Corbin Boes (17)
Jacob De Serres (20)
Andrew Hayes (20)
*Liam Liston (17)
*Ty Rimmer (18)

Defencemen (15)
Darren Bestland (20)
*Brett Blatz (17)
*Josh Elmes (17)
*Jordan Fransoo (17)
*Spencer Galbraith (17)
*Rene Hunter (17)
*Tanner Jago (16)
*Kyle Krzyzaniak (18)
*Dylan Kuczek (16)
Brodie Melnychuk (19)
Ryley Miller (18)
*Ryan Pulock (16)
*Eric Roy (16)
Mark Schneider (20)
*Colton Waltz (15)

Forwards (24)
*Daniel Asham (16)
*Warren Callis (17)
*Bryn Chyzyk (18)
Paul Ciarelli (19)
*Dakota Conroy (16)
Mike Ferland (18)
*Jon Gaudet (18)
Scott Glennie (19)
*Brendan Harms (16)
*Wheaton King (18)
*Austin Lewis (17)
*Jens Meilleur (17)
*Mark Mieritz (19)
*Cody Nelson (16)
*Carter Proft (16)
Brayden Schenn (19)
*Tyrel Seaman (16)
Jesse Sinatynski (18)
Mark Stone (18)
*Jason Swyripa (17)
*David Toews (20)
Brenden Walker (18)
*Taylor Wells (18)
Shayne Wiebe (20)

* - denote rookie.

Toews Wants to Earn Spot

David Toews is looking forward to being a Brandon Wheat King.

The 20-year old Toews left the University of North Dakota over the summer in order to play in the Western Hockey League.

Toews (left) is one of six 20-year old players currently on the Wheat Kings' roster so the most obvious question to ask when I caught up with him on Friday was whether he was guaranteed a spot for the 2010-2011 season.

"I'm not expecting to come here and just waltz my way in," said the 5-foot-11, 195 pound Toews, "Anywhere you go in hockey, anything you do, you have to earn it. That's the way it is...I just had a great opportunity to come here."

The Winnipeg product notched nine goals and 26 points in 55 games the past two seasons at UND and some his icetime dwindle during the second half of last season.

Toews says the opportunity to play more games and receive more ice time were the main reasons for his decision to come to Brandon.

"I want to play more, and I want to play more games. At the end of the day, that was a big factor for me," says Toews, "I'm excited to play a lot more and live more of the lifestyle of a professional hockey player. I'm really looking forward to that part here in Brandon."

Toews was a third round pick (66th overall) of the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and will leave next weekend to attend the Isles' rookie training camp.

He says New York fully endorsed his decision to come to Brandon.

"They're excited to see where I'm at right now, coming into camp, and see how I do with the pro's out there," says Toews, "I think they're excited to see me play more games this year, and they'll be able to evaluate my game a little bit more. I think they have a lot of respect for this program, and I think they're really looking forward to seeing me play here in Brandon."

Toews added the one big adjustment he might have to make to playing in the WHL is the long bus trips, but joked that he's a heavy sleeper so he doesn't think it'll bother him that much.

The younger brother of Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, David got a chance to see the Stanley Cup up-close more than once this summer.

However, the younger Toews says he held to the hockey player tradition that you can't touch the Stanley Cup unless you've won it.

Toews and the Wheat Kings continue training camp on Saturday with scrimmages at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The Wheat Kings are expected to cut down to about 40 players prior to Saturday night's scrimmage.

Camp concludes with the annual intrasquad game on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Darkhorse Hoping to Stick it Out

One of the darkhorses at the Brandon Wheat Kings' training camp is 18-year old forward Jon Gaudet.

Gaudet (right) spent the past two seasons with the Vincent Massey Trojans of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League, notching 26 goals and 55 points in 27 games last season.

"I was just trying to come out here and see what the WHL is like," says the 6-foot-1, 180 pound Gaudet, "I haven't really been to any camps in my life so I was out here just to see what the fuss was all about."

Gaudet is one of just 10 unlisted players that survived Rookie Camp and moved on to main camp, which began Friday morning.

He didn't look out of place in the first scrimmage of main camp Friday morning, scoring a pair of goals for the Gold Team in a 6-5 loss to the Black squad.

"Yeah, I feel that as long I have the right linemates," says Gaudet, who went to camp with the MJHL's Winnipeg Saints late last month, "They get me used to the pace and used to the game style they like to play...it helps out a lot."

Gaudet will have at least one more scrimmage to try and impress and the Winnipeg product says he'll hopes to continue doing what he can to stick around.

"I have to fire the puck on net and hope that it goes in," says Gaudet, "I just have to keep on scoring some more goals and doing the best I can to try and impress the coaches."

The Wheat Kings have another scrimmage slated for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Westman Communications Group Place.

Chaff...David Toews, 20, saw his first action of training camp Friday morning and scored a goal for the Black Team...G Liam Liston is not taking part in Friday's scrimmages and is day-to-day with a groin pull...Saturday's scrimmages are at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with camp concluding with the intrasquad game on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Wheat Kings Main Camp Roster

(Age in parentheses)

Goaltenders (5)
*Corbin Boes (17)
Jacob De Serres (20)
Andrew Hayes (20)
*Liam Liston (17)
*Ty Rimmer (18)

Defencemen(20)
Darren Bestland (20)
*Brett Blatz (15)
*Garret Bruce (15)
*Josh Elmes (17)
*Jordan Fransoo (17)
*Gavin Froese (15)
*Spencer Galbraith (17)
*Rene Hunter (17)
*Tanner Jago (16)
*Kyle Krzyzaniak (18)
*Dylan Kuczek (16)
*Ben McFlickier (17)
Brodie Melnychuk (19)
Ryley Miller (18)
*Ryan Pulock (16)
*Max Powiada (15)
*Eric Roy (16)
Mark Schneider (20)
*Nolan Speiss (15)
*Colton Waltz (15)

Forwards (36)
*Daniel Asham (16)
*Sam Aulie (16)
*Warren Callis (17)
*Bryn Chyzyk (18)
Paul Ciarelli (19)
*Mitch Collett (15)
*Dakota Conroy (16)
*Taylor Cooper (15)
Mike Ferland (18)
*Jon Gaudet (18)
Scott Glennie (19)
*Brendan Harms (16)
*Riley Hay (17)
*Kyler Hehn (15)
*Wheaton King (18)
*Brandon Lauder (17)
*Austin Lewis (17)
*Quintin Lisoway (15)
*Connor Lockhart (17)
*Jens Meilleur (17)
*Jack Palmer (15)
*Mark Mieritz (19)
*Cody Nelson (16)
*Carter Proft (16)
Brayden Schenn (19)
*Tyrel Seaman (16)
Jesse Sinatynski (18)
*Hunter Smith (15)
Mark Stone (18)
*Jason Swyripa (17)
*Daniel Taillefer (15)
*David Toews (20)
Brenden Walker (18)
*Taylor Wells (18)
Shayne Wiebe (20)
*Morgan Winchar (17)

* - denote rookie. 15-year-old players are ineligible to play in WHL this season.

Nelson Hoping to Follow Brandon Blueprint

Cody Nelson is hoping to follow in some pretty impressive footsteps.

The 16-year old Nelson was added to Brandon's list 14 months ago after being passed over in the 2009 Bantam Draft and is trying to join the likes of Matt Calvert and Michael Ferland as local products to play for the Wheat Kings after not being chosen in the bantam draft.

"I look at it as an advantage for me," says Nelson, "It pushes you to be better than everybody else that got drafted."

This year's training camp is the second go-round for Nelson, who was one of 45 prospects held over the start of main camp Friday.

"I think I feel a little more confident, being an older guy and one of the guys to look up to," says Nelson, "More than coming in wide-eyes and not having a clue what to expect. It's just a little more relaxing."

The 5-foot-11, 196 pound Nelson spent last year with the AAA Midget Wheat Kings, notching eight goals and 19 points in 44 games.

He played with Team Manitoba at last year's Western Canadian Under-16 Challenge Cup and is one of 29 players remaining on the evaluation roster for Hockey Manitoba's U17 team.

11 of those 29 players will be chosen to join their Saskatchewan counterparts on Team West for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this December in Winnipeg.

61 players in total will participate in main camp in five goaltenders, 20 defencemen and 36 forwards.

Nelson expects the intensity level to pick up on Friday when the Wheat Kings' 16 returning players hit the ice.

"Those guys are going to getting ready for their season to start so they're going to be playing their top game," says Nelson, "We're going to have to be playing our best to play at that level."

There are two scrimmages slated for Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Chaff...among the nine unlisted prospects retained for main camp were the cousin of former Wheat King captain Keith Aulie, Sam Aulie; Taylor Wells, the son of former Brandon assistant coach Brad Wells, and Jon Gaudet, who finished seventh in scoring in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League last year while with the Vincent Massey Trojans.

Lisoway Loves to Score Goals

Neepawa product Quinton Lisoway is hoping to translate his scoring prowness to the next level.

Lisoway notched an amazing 18 goals and 31 points in six games at last February's Tournament of Champions in Brandon, part of the reason the Wheat Kings made him a ninth round pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.

"It's a great feeling, especially just being draft...that's just one step," says the 5-foot-10, 154 pound Lisoway, "It's close to home, if I make the team, I'll be able to have some of my buddies come and watch...it's going to be great."

Lisoway been a busy player over the last week, like a lot of prospects at the Wheat Kings' rookie camp.

He participated in the Neepawa Natives' (MJHL) camp this past weekend, and continued practicing with the team earlier this week before coming to Brandon.

The one thing he's noticed the most about competing at the Junior Level has been the speed of the game.

"Fast pace, very fast and a lot faster than I'm used to," says Lisoway, "It took a while to catch up to the speed but now I've caught up a bit and can work hard at it."

Lisoway is expected to play this season with the AAA Midget Yellowhead Chiefs and is also hoping to represent our province at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.

He's one of 40 players in the Hockey Manitoba U16 roster entering the 2010-2011 season.

As far as the Wheat Kings are concerned, Lisoway's goals are fairly simple at camp.

"My goal is just to work hard, play at my best and try and score goals," says Lisoway, "That's what I like doing, I love scoring goals."

The Wheat Kings' Rookie Camp will conclude later this evening but Lisoway and the rest of the players on the Wheat Kings' protected list are expected to be held over the start of main camp on Friday.

60 players are expected to be retained for main camp.

Chaff...Brandon's returing players completed their fitness testing on Thursday morning and will hit the ice for the first time on Friday. Here's the main camp schedule...

Brandon Wheat Kings' Main Camp Schedule

Friday, September 3
Team White Practice, 8:00 a.m.
Team Black vs. Team Gold, 9:30 a.m.
Team Black Practice, 5:00 p.m.
Team White vs. Team Gold, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 4
Team Gold Practice, 8:00 a.m.
Team White vs. Team Black, 9:30 a.m.
Intra-squad Game, 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 5
Intra-squad game, 2:00 p.m.

**All scrimmages at Westman Communications Group Place. They are Open to the public.

Waltz Hoping to Learn, Impress

Brandon's 2010 bantam draft picks are getting their first chance to make a good impression at the Wheat Kings' training camp this week.

Among those taking part is defenceman Colton Waltz, who was selected in the third round as the club's first pick of the draft.

Waltz (left) was projected by some scouts as a first round pick in April's draft but the Vermillion, Alberta product says he isn't disappointed about where he landed.

"It's always nice to go high, but I ended up being their first pick, which is great," says Waltz, "I'm really happy where I went."

The 5-foot-11, 170 pound waltz notched 18 goals and 42 points in 30 games with Lloydminster of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League last season and is expected to suit up for the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Midget Hockey League this year.

"I like to be an offensive defenceman, I like to jump into the play," says Waltz, "Be responsible on the defensive side, but I like to help in on offence as well."

Waltz is one of 10 picks from the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft participating in Rookie Camp and is just hoping to learn as much as he can, both on and off the ice.

"You have to come here, work hard and just them what you've got because it's the first time they're seeing you," says Waltz, "I've heard great things about Brandon and I'm just looking forward to being around the city."

Waltz is also one of 35 players who were shortlisted for Team Alberta U16 team for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

The Games take place from February 19-27 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Meanwhile, the Wheat Kings' rookie camp continues Thursday with scrimmages at Westman Communications Group Place slated for 8:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Chaff...Wheat Kings' prospects Tyler Fuhr and Mitch Collett were also shortlisted for Hockey Alberta's U16 Canada Games team...Brandon products Brayden Cuthbert and Joel Edmundson were both in the lineup for Moose Jaw in the Warriors' 4-2 pre-season victory over Swift Current Wednesday. Cuthbert recorded an assist while Edmundson was held off the scoresheet.

Schenn, Glennie Carded in TO

(With Information from Canadian Press, TSN)

Some of hockey’s best young talent was on display in Toronto Wednesday at the 2010 NHLPA Rookie Showcase.

23 players including Brandon Wheat Kings' forwards Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie were brought together by the NHLPA in order to get their pictures taken by Upper Deck and Panini for their first NHL rookie cards.

The experience brought back memories for Schenn, who used to be rewarded with a pack of cards every time he registered a hat trick in minor hockey.

"Me and my brother (Luke) and a couple of neighbourhood buddies, we used to be big hockey card collectors...I used to have a big binder full," Schenn told TSN, "My favourite card that I always wanted to get was Pavel Bure. I tried to trade with all my buddies for him, and I seemed to do pretty well with that."

The players began the day with a 45 minute media session, followed by a rotation through a series of stations set up by the two trading card companies.

Once in uniform, prospects were photographed on and off the ice, with a video component thrown in for good measure.