Tuesday, August 10, 2021 brandonsun.com REPORT GAME RESULTS BEFORE 9 P.M. PHONE 204.571.7442 FAX 204.727.0385 Sports EMAIL [email protected] TRY TO BEAT THAT!: THE 1978-79 BRANDON WHEAT KINGS Brandon sweeps Saskatoon for berth in semis BY PERRY BERGSON Division and the second- place Lethbridge Broncos (38-27-7) — the Swift Cur- One year after suffer- rent Broncos moved there ing heartache in the fi rst for 12 seasons between 1974 round of the 1977-78 West- and 1986 before returning to ern Hockey League playoffs, Saskatchewan — represent- the Brandon Wheat Kings ed the Central Division after showed just how completely the Billings Bighorns were they had learned their les- unexpectedly ousted. son. KELLY McCRIMMON: That takes us back to the “Pick three worse cities to oddest post-season format stick into a round-robin in in league history. terms of geography.” At the time, there were TIM LOCKRIDGE: “That three divisions in the 12- round-robin thing made no team league, the Eastern, sense at all but it was what Central and Western. The the league wanted to do back top three clubs in each divi- then I guess.” sion played an eight-game The Wheat Kings had out- round-robin, with a double scored the Broncos 31-12 home and away against the in the regular season, and other two top fi nishers. it was more of the same in The eight games elimi- the opener in Lethbridge on nated one team per division, April 19 as Brandon cruised with the two top fi nishers to a 6-1 victory. playing a best-of-seven di- The Wheat Kings fl ew to vision fi nal. That provided Vancouver the next morn- three division winners, who ing and bused to Portland, played a home-and-home where the Winter Hawks series against each other in a were waiting for them. What four-game round-robin. One ensued was the worst beat- of the three teams was elimi- ing of the year for Brandon nated, providing the two as it fell 10-0 to the West Di- league fi nalists. vision champs. Brandon faced the Ed- WES COULSON: “We monton Oil Kings and the weren’t very good that night. Saskatoon Blades in the fi rst If I remember right, we bused round-robin. to Calgary, went down to Le- DON GILLEN: “I really en- thbridge and beat them in joyed spring hockey. I was the fi rst game, went back to in better shape and I didn’t Calgary, left in the morning, want to go home. I enjoyed fl ew to Vancouver and then the nicer climate, I enjoyed bused to Portland to play playoffs that were meaning- TOP RIGHT: Brandon Wheat Kings forward Don Gillen car- that next game. We came out ful. I loved playoff hockey ries the puck through the neutral zone under the watchful eye of the dressing room fi rst and and I still do.” of teammate Brad Kempthorne (19) and a pair of Saskatoon they had 11,000 people in GREGG DRINNAN: “Go- Blades during Game 8 of the East Division round-robin on the building, it was jammed ing into the playoffs, because April 8, 1979. TOP LEFT: As bad life decisions go, perhaps to the rafters, and out they Dunc (McCallum) took such choosing to drop the gloves against Brandon defenceman Tim came and it was just bedlam. a business-like approach Lockridge during a 13-1 loss isn’t a great idea. The fi ght came I think we kind of got looking and treated the players like in the meaningless eighth game of the divisional round-robin around ‘Holy crap, what the men, (it was) ‘This is our job, on April 8, 1979 after both Brandon and the Saskatoon Blades hell is going on here?’ It was playoffs are here, OK guys, already clinched their spots in the divisional fi nal. BOTTOM one of those nights when you we just played 72 games to RIGHT: Brandon Wheat Kings forwards Dave Stewart (9) and blink your eyes twice and get here, let’s go.’ I don’t think Kelly McCrimmon (18) attack the Edmonton Oil Kings net dur- you’re down 4-0. Then they there was any talk of the pre- ing Game 5 of the East Division round-robin on April 3, 1979 at just poured it on and there vious year, but guys like Brad the Keystone Centre. Brandon won 5-3. BOTTOM LEFT: The was nothing we could do. We McCrimmon weren’t going scoreclock tells the story in Game 8 of the East Division round- just couldn’t stop the bleed- to forget what happened and robin on April 8, 1979. The Brandon Wheat Kings blasted a ing at all.” I’m sure Brad let them know Saskatoon Blades squad that was resting many of its top play- GREGG DRINNAN: “I don’t how it happened.” ers for their upcoming divisional fi nal. (Brandon Sun fi le photos) know if Dunc really had to deliver a message to the ROUND-ROBIN NO. 1 guys. I’m sure at that point On March 29, Brandon WHEAT KINGS WHL WHL WHEAT KINGS that guys like Brad and Tim won the opener 4-0 in Lloyd- REGULAR SEASON HEAD TO HEAD FINAL STANDINGS REGULAR SEASON SCORING REGULAR SEASON LOSSES Lockridge would have a mes- minster, Alta. — the Oil Kings EAST DIVISION (39-3-6) EAST DIVISION GP G A Pt PIM sage that ‘This was just a bad couldn’t get into their build- GP W L T Pt GF GA Brian Propp 71 94 100 194 127 Game 30, Dec. 13, 1978 one, we’re better than this, ing, nor could the Wheat (6-5, 12-3, 8-8, 10-3, 7-7, 10-3, 3-3, 4-1, 5-4, Brandon 72 58 5 9 125 491 230 Ray Allison 62 60 93 153 191 Record: 24-1-5. let’s not let this happen again Kings because of the Winter 6-2, 8-3, 3-2, 5-1, 1-1, 6-7, 4-6). Saskatoon 72 26 32 14 66 385 398 Laurie Boschman 65 66 83 149 215 and get back at it.’” ! Edmonton 72 17 43 12 46 288 403 Brad McCrimmon 66 24 74 98 139 TIM LOCKRIDGE: “I think Fair — so they didn’t repeat Dave Stewart 66 24 55 79 90 Game 38, Jan. 15, 1979 (9-5, 12-0, 9-3, 8-2, 8-4, 7-1, 8-4, 9-3, 6-5, Regina 72 18 47 7 43 297 481 we were just dog tired again. I the opening loss from a year 8-3, 5-1, 7-5, 5-2, 7-3, 14-4, 9-3) CENTRAL DIVISION Mike Perovich 62 15 58 73 170 Record: 31-2-5. ago. " # GP W L T Pt GF GA Steve Patrick 52 23 31 54 105 remember that game and we A night later, the unthink- (6-0, 6-3, 3-1, 14-2, 7-2, 3-3, 3-1, 4-9, 9-5, Billings 72 38 23 11 87 378 302 Brad Kempthorne 56 22 31 53 89 all kind of looked at each oth- able happened when Sas- 8-4, 4-4, 9-2, 8-2, 11-2, 6-4, 6-5). Lethbridge 72 37 28 7 81 389 326 Tim Lockridge 70 10 42 52 297 Game 51, Feb. 11, 1979 er and knew we were a better katoon beat Brandon 5-4 in Calgary 72 28 38 6 62 349 392 Don Gillen 64 21 30 51 212 Record: 41-3-7. hockey team than them. I CENTRAL DIVISION (14-1-1) Medicine Hat 72 15 50 7 37 270 479 Wes Coulson 66 13 38 51 99 think they were sitting there double overtime on Terry Brant Kiessig 69 29 15 44 108 $ WEST DIVISION waiting for us too. It’s not like Paskurak’s goal. Suddenly (7-3, 4-4, 5-6, 6-3). GP W L T Pt GF GA Don Dietrich 69 6 37 43 29 Game 68, March 16, 1979 Brandon found itself behind %$& ' Portland 72 49 10 13 111 432 265 Dave McDonald 43 19 20 39 110 Record: 55-4-9. they were travelling the day Saskatoon in the round- (11-2, 9-2, 4-3, 7-5). Victoria 72 34 27 11 79 318 295 Kelly McCrimmon 40 15 24 39 139 before. That game to me, I re- robin standings, and while it *+ ; New West 72 34 32 6 74 310 301 Dave Chartier 48 14 12 26 83 member it but I think I men- was ahead of Edmonton and (6-2, 6-4, 8-3, 8-6). Seattle 72 21 40 11 53 299 334 Darren Gusdal 61 11 13 24 52 Game 71, March 21, 1979 tally blocked most of it.” Walt Poddubny 20 11 11 22 12 Record: 57-5-9. thus likely to advance, it was <' = > STEPHEN PATRICK: “That (12-2, 8-2, 6-3, 7-1). The teams all played 72 games. The top three Larry Roberts 55 8 10 18 26 a setup for a team that had clubs in each division made the playoffs. Kelly Elcombe 45 3 15 18 145 was an eye-opener.” only lost fi ve games all sea- WEST DIVISION (5-1-2) East Division: Brandon Wheat Kings, Saskatoon Pat Workman 6 1 2 3 0 DAVE STEWART: “You get son. ; =? Blades, Edmonton Oil Kings, Regina Pats.