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Home , Brandon Wheat Kings, Keystone Centre, Laurie Boschman, Regina Pats

Saturday, August 14, 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 fans honour the team at Brandon City Hall after they returned home from the in 1979. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) Players look fondly at magic season now BY PERRY BERGSON A single square of the origi- remember the games, but started talking to him about else would, which was all STEPHEN PATRICK: “In nal brick remains untouched, you remember stuff away it and I said ‘And I had the part of bonding together as 2012 or 2014, Donny and Kel- All these years later, the where wrote from the rink as much as you privilege of playing on one of a team. You play together ly and me went for lunch and 1978-79 Brandon Wheat “125 pts, try to beat that!” The do the games because you’re the best junior hockey teams and you have a few beers to- you don’t forget anything. Kings remain a measuring ink is fading, especially on a wide-eyed kid, whether it ever, the 1978-79 edition of gether. I love talking about You laugh like you’re still in stick of greatness. the bottom line, but the 125 was Olly fi ghting Donny or the Brandon Wheat Kings.’ that when somebody asks me the dressing room … Every- Brandon (58-5-9) still is still easy to make out. Olly coming into Brad’s wed- He goes ‘I didn’t know about about those players and that thing was great about Bran- holds the WHL mark for most It’s a , and a sea- ding wearing rollerblades or that.’ He was a younger guy. team. I love talking about it don. The year was great. We points with 125, and an in- son, that remains remarkably Dieter doing the dance, stuff I said ‘Ya, we went 58-5-9.’ because it was a pretty spe- had great billets, great team- credible 49-game unbeaten meaningful to the men, now like that.” He said ‘You went what?’ ‘We cial time to play on that team mates, great coach, great GM. streak that ran from Feb. 11, in their sixties, who earned : “It’s big. went 58-5-9, we won 58 out and with those guys.” It was huge.” 1978 to Dec. 13, 1978. a place in history as teenag- There was a team from On- of 72 games and we had 125 DAVE STEWART: “A couple MIKE PEROVICH: “We The closest anyone has ers. The memories will last tario that beat our record a bit points out of a possible 144.’ of years ago when P.A. weren’t were the best team that nev- come to the points record well beyond the marks on the — they had a pretty special He goes ‘Wow, you guys must losing at all, I was going ‘Oh er won the Memorial Cup. was in 2008-09 when the Cal- wall. team too — and they were have been unbelievable and I no, this can’t happen.’ Then That’s something, and you’re gary Hitmen went 59-9-3-1 RICK KNICKLE: “It’s some- comparing us to them. It’s said ‘To be there and be with they fi nally lost and it was proud to be part of it.” for 122 points, but it’s worth thing that I’m very proud of. unbelievable how after (40) the team we had, it was an ‘Oh yes, thank God,’ as bad : “At noting the league had over- Not winning doesn’t hurt as years you still have records absolute pleasure to say that I as that maybe sounds. That’s the time, you’re just playing times and shootouts by then. much because of the length in the book and nobody has did that and was part of that.’ our record. I’ll never forget it. hockey. We love what we do, In 2004, the Hock- of the sample size, playing touched them. That’s unreal.” There’s really nothing else I I have to be reminded some- we love competing, we love ey League’s two years, three years with TIM LOCKRIDGE: “It can say. I have some lifetime times, but I’ll never forget, going to battle and we just started the season with a a lot of those guys and the means a lot and I’m proud friends out of it, lots of guys and I don’t think the other enjoyed each other’s com- 31-game unbeaten streak, friendships. Sports is the win- that I was able to be part of I haven’t seen in a while and guys will either. That’s what pany. It’s always better when topping Brandon’s 29-game ning and the losing, but it’s that. I didn’t really start think- lots of guys I see now and keeps us together.” you’re on a winning team, mark by two. The Wheat the process and things that ing about it until the year again. I talk to guys once in MIKE PEROVICH: “I look and the years I was in Bran- Kings still hold the WHL mark you go through. Thank God that London beat our record a while but to be part of that back at it and realize that was don, we had good teams … for longest streak to start a I was in that time and that for consecutive unbeaten was special. You don’t realize quite a feat, the year we had. You look back years later, season and longest streak era because I don’t think guys games. You know what, that it at the time because you’re That was something else, and and I think when the London overall. have as much fun as we did was something to be proud a kid but as you get older, for somebody to break that, Knights were after that record Brandon’s record of just with that team.” of. Look how long it took you say ‘Wow, we were pretty all records get broken but it of ours and they broke it, the fi ve losses is fi ve better than STEPHEN PATRICK: “The somebody else to better what damn good.’ It was just an lasted a long time.” media started reaching out the 1976-77 Wheat Kings and record is special but the peo- we accomplished.” honour and a privilege.” RICK KNICKLE: “It was to those of us who played on the 1978-79 Portland Winter- ple were more special that WES COULSON: “Just the DAVE McDONALD: “It’s one team I’ve always cher- that Brandon team. hawks. you got to play with. Whether other day, I was out golfi ng great memories and great ished. You have so much Brandon’s mark of two we went to overtime against and the guy asked ‘What did laughs. We would have team more fun in junior than pro. » See ‘Team’ –– Page B3 losses at home is tied for sec- Peterborough — we had the you do in a previous life?’ I parties just like everybody The team was pretty special.” ond behind the 1973-74 New better team — or if we didn’t Westminster Bruins, who get by Portland … for me it were unbeaten. The Wheat was the bus trips, hanging Kings’ 17-game unbeaten out with the guys, the Roll- DEAR WHEAT KING FANS, streak on the road was broken N-Pin, pizza after the game, in 1999-2000 by the Hitmen, Dieter doing the dance from who went 18 games without Greased Lightning, all these As we get closer to the 2021/2022 hockey season, I wanted to personally take this time to thank you for your a loss. The Wheat Kings still many, many memories. It patience over the last 18-months. Our players and staff are extremely excited to welcome you back to the hold the mark for fewest road was fantastic we had that losses with three. record, but you can have a arena for the first time since March 7th of 2020. The team’s 491 goals is third record and not have a real all time behind the 1986-87 memorable time because the The 2021 season was a unique experience for our players and staff. We played 24 games under one roof Blazers (496) and wrong people were there. Ev- while you watched at home from the comfort of your living room. Our team not only played hard for the logo 1982-83 Winter Hawks (495). erybody on the team brought on their chest but the communities our fans live in. Through hard work and commitment to the plan we clinched The 85 shots they put on something, whether you were net against the fourth line or 5-6 D.” the East Division title. This new banner will be proudly hung from the rafters this October, a memento from a on March 12, 1979 in a 14-4 : “I don’t look truly “one of a kind” season. win remains a league high. back too much. I refl ect on Brian Propp set the record it with fondness, it was a fun Our attention now shifts to a new era and a new season. The focus is not only on continuing traditions you’ve for goals (94) and points time in my life but if you’re al- (194) for a left winger that ways looking back, you never come to expect, but to provide the best entertainment in the WHL. season — he set the assists look forward. You can’t live record the year before with your life that way and you In co-operation with the Keystone management, we have made several capital improvements to the 112 — and his 194 points is shouldn’t live your life that arena, including new boards and glass, sound system enhancements, creative lighting as well as many other third in WHL history. His 13 way. You have to look forward hat tricks tied ’s or it’s not healthy. It was an décor and cosmetic upgrades. Our staff has implemented a new digital ticketing platform to make your entry record, which was eclipsed in exceptional time in my life into our venue as simple and safe as possible. Fans can expect a brand new in-game experience from the the 1983-84 season when Ray and I would love to go back moment the doors open until the final buzzer. Ferraro scored 15. Propp’s 16 and do it again but I don’t sit game-winning goals remains here and look back at it and the record. try and recapture it every day On the ice, we return a core nucleus of players including Senators draft pick , “We were never out of a because it’s gone.” Oilers pick Jake Chiasson and selection Vinny Iorio. Meanwhile, Nate Danielson, Rylan game,” Kelly McCrimmon KELLY McCRIMMON: Roersma, and Ty Zimmer make up the next wave of talent from our 2019 WHL bantam draft class. said. “Even during that long “When you look at Brad and winning streak, we had some Laurie Boschman, Ray Alli- games where maybe we son, Brian Propp, those guys In closing, on behalf of the new ownership we want to thank you for your continued patience and support of didn’t play well but Ray and were so good. They were such the Wheat Kings. Our players are extremely proud to play in front of you and can’t wait to feel the energy in Laurie and Brian could win great players that even as a our building. We look forward to seeing you! the game in a fi ve-minute player, you were just some- stretch in the third period. times in awe of how good they WITH GRATITUDE, They were so good and our were. That’s something you power play was so good.” ordinarily realize fi ve years The two goals Brandon later or 10 years later, but scored six seconds apart on even when it was happening, April 24, 1979 in a 13-3 win you marvelled at how good over the Bron- those players were. It was a cos remain the two quickest great team, the (points) re- markers in WHL playoff his- cord still hasn’t been broken. tory. I would think every single The magic season remains person would feel a sense of VIONELL (JARED) JACOBSON a part of Wheat Kings lore, pride there. There were some OWNER & GOVERNOR even in the dressing room great friendships that lasted a that has been newly redone lifetime from that group.” BRANDON WHEAT KINGS by owner Jared Jacobson. STEPHEN PATRICK: “You