Make it Back-to-Back Wins for Wheat Kings

Taylor Cooper scored the game-winning
goal for Brandon on Saturday

  The Brandon Wheat Kings have won back-to-back games for the first time since September.

  Chad Robinson scored twice and Taylor Cooper netted the winner as part of a three-goal third period as the Wheat Kings beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 4-2.

  Cooper’s goal with 2:08 left in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and was the rookie’s first goal since scoring on opening night on September 21^st.

  “We’ve been really stressing about getting to the net and getting second chances and not having one and dones,” said Brandon assistant coach Darren Ritchie on CKLQ’s post-game show, “Lately, we’ve been doing a better job of getting second chances.”

  Jens Meilleur also scored for the Wheat Kings while Curtis Honey stopped 23 shots in the Brandon net.

  After allowing 53 shots in Tuesday’s 7-5 loss to Saskatoon, the Wheat Kings allowed a total of 51 shots in the back-to-back victories over the Warriors Friday and Saturday.

  “The last two games, we’ve done a real good job of keeping things to the outside, collapsing to our net and being in the right spot defensively.  When the puck does get on your stick, you can turn it into offence,” added Ritchie, “We’ve scored some goals off the rush lately, and that doesn’t happen very often with us and it’s a good sign of us playing good defence, and turning that into good offence.”

  The victory allowed the Wheat Kings to move to within a point of the Warriors, who now sit in ninth-place in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.

  Medicine Hat took over eighth-place with their 7-6 overtime win over Kamloops Saturday, with the Tigers two points ahead of Brandon.

  The Wheat Kings close out their pre-season schedule Sunday night when they visit the Prince Albert Raiders (6:35 p.m., 880 CKLQ).