B2 ■ SPORTS THE BRANDON SUN ■ WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23 2020 » Wheat Kings dominated in December Continued from Page B1 game knowing if things came STANDINGS RESULTS down to it, we had the Sportsplex DOMINANT DAYS REGULAR SEASON REGULAR SEASON SCORES with all our fans. We were excited Everyone recognized what to start playoffs.” was happening. The Wheat W T SL OL GF GA PT Oct. 4 — Brandon 2, Wpg Wild 2 Kings became a dominant club, Brandon 31 5 4 0 208 112 66 Oct. 5 — Pembina Valley 3, Brandon 1 SET FOR PLAYOFFS Thrashers 29 3 7 1 171 88 66 Oct. 11 — Brandon 8, Eastman 5 winning 11 straight games be- Pembina 25 11 4 0 156 129 54 Oct. 12 — Brandon 7, Kenora 6 (OT) The team that initially been tween mid-December and the Eastman 24 11 4 1 162 121 53 Oct. 18 — Brandon 7, Yellowhead 3 picked to fi nish in the middle end of January. When the regular Central Plains 19 17 2 2 145 153 42 of the pack was instead head- season ended, they were on 14- Wild 18 17 4 1 144 141 41 Oct. 19 — Brandon 9, Parkland 2 ing into the playoffs with confi - 1-0-0-1 tear. Kenora 17 17 3 3 135 145 40 Oct. 24 — Brandon 7, Norman 2 dence and home-ice advantage. RYAN WHITE: “We would get Yellowhead 15 20 3 2 118 148 35 Oct. 26 — Brandon 4, Interlake 2 It would prove to be a daunting Norman 13 21 2 4 127 157 32 Oct. 29 — Brandon 3, Southwest 2 some of these teams at home Interlake 10 20 5 5 118 136 30 Oct. 30 — Pembina Valley 5, Brandon 4 combination. and would get rolling and take Southwest 11 25 2 2 93 153 26 BROCK TURNER: “We were advantage of teams. That was Parkland 7 29 0 4 106 201 18 Nov. 4 — Brandon 6, Central Plains 2 defi nitely pleased. We squeaked when I started to realize we Nov. 8 — Brandon 3, Wpg Thrashers 3 out fi rst place … By that point, could do something special. In Nov. 9 — Brandon 7, Parkland 3 the surprise was over, from the second half down the stretch, SCORING Nov. 11 — Brandon 6, Southwest 1 thinking we were going to be a Nov. 15 — Brandon 5, Pembina Valley 1 .500 club and top fi ve and now we really started to realize we SEASON — BRANDON SKATERS were doing things good when we Nov. 16 — Brandon 4, Yellowhead 2 we’re the top of the league. Our would get teams at home.” GPGAPPimNov. 21 — Kenora 5, Brandon 3 expectations weren’t just to MARK JOHNSTON: “Once Tyler Dittmer 38 37 46 83 84 Nov. 22 — Brandon 4, Interlake 2 make the playoffs anymore, they they had the feeling of success, Bryan Kauk 39 23 45 68 74 Nov. 26 — Brandon 6, Southwest 3 were to win the league.” Ryan White 39 21 41 62 90 Nov. 28 — Brandon 5, Central Plains 1 there was no turning back.” Ryan Halliday 40 23 31 54 81 BRANDON LOCKERBY: “I BRYAN KAUK: “We always Joel Malchuk 39 19 24 43 92 Nov. 30 — Brandon 7, Wpg Wild 3 think we would have been very knew we were pretty good based Andrew Clark 40 18 21 39 48 Dec. 6 — Brandon 3, Norman 1 happy with that. I know that year on the players we had. As the Matt Ostash 31 11 19 30 14 Dec. 7 — Brandon 5, Norman 5 especially, the Thrashers and season went on, we were win- M. McCrimmon 36 4 25 29 116 Dec. 13 — Brandon 5, Eastman 4 us were always back and forth ning games and we got past Andrew Gurba 40 12 14 26 20 Dec. 14 — Wpg Thrashers 3, Brandon 1 competitively. We always had T. Langford 30 14 11 25 60 Christmas and we were still a great games with them. There Brandon Wheat Kings forward Ryan Halliday hits Stephane Ken Mott 39 1 21 22 65 Dec. 19 — Brandon 10, Central Plains 4 good team. I defi nitely didn’t at Morrisette of the Eastman Selects during a 4-3 Brandon vic- Shaun Earl 40 13 8 21 74 Dec. 20 — Brandon 5, Interlake 4 were other teams in the league any point think we were a team tory at the Sportsplex in Manitoba AAA U18 Hockey League B. Lockerby 40 4 14 18 46 Jan. 3 — Brandon 4, Eastman 3 (OT) we also had tough games with, that would go on to win nation- action on Jan. 3, 2004. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) Brock Hunter 39 3 9 12 35 Jan. 6 — Brandon 6 Central Plains 2 like Kenora.” als.” Kirk Graham 37 3 7 10 77 Jan. 9 — Brandon 5, Parkland 1 TAYLOR LANGFORD: “I think BROCK TURNER: “We were look at maybe our goal is to fi n- ANDREW GURBA: “When you Trent Pope 38 1 9 10 28 we felt like we were playing well *Zack McMillan 2 1 0 1 4 looking at each other in the room ish in the top four. We just kept start putting together so many Jan. 10 — Brandon 8, Yellowhead 3 and ready for the playoffs. We Justin Watters 21 0 1 1 32 Jan. 15 — Brandon 9, Yellowhead 0 and just saying ‘Let’s keep win- winning and had so much depth wins, you start thinking maybe *Drew Bertone 1 0 0 0 0 Jan. 18 — Brandon 5, Parkland 4 were confi dent. I felt like we had ning.’ We had a very good record up front that we were able to we can win the whole league *Carson McMillan 4 0 0 0 0 Jan. 24 — Brandon 7, Eastman 2 a fairly confi dent group in gen- by the end of the regular season change the identity of some of again. There were just so many Bryce Davis 18 0 0 0 36 Jan. 25 — Brandon 7, Kenora 4 eral.” and nobody thought we would our players, from goal scorers good players on the team.” ANDREW GURBA: “We were SEASON — BRANDON GOALIES be on top, that’s for sure. Proba- in years past to shutdown guys, Jan. 30 — Brandon 6, Norman 2 happy. When you win a league bly, a quarter or halfway through guys like Joel Malchuk and Matt A KEY RESULT Min Ave Feb. 1 — Kenora 4, Brandon 3 and repeat, especially for Bran- Feb. 4 — Brandon 5, Southwest 3 the season we were starting to Ostash who really bought into The season couldn’t have Tyler Plante 1,020 2.53 don, that was something we Kurt Jory 1,407 2.94 Feb. 6 — Brandon 4, Wpg Wild 3 believe more and more.” the system as the guys who ended more dramatically. Bran- Feb. 7 — Brandon 2, Wpg Thrashers 2 didn’t take for granted.” TYLER DITTMER: “We start- played against the other teams’ don and the Winnipeg Thrashers CRAIG ANDERSON: “We ed 0-1-1, so that was a tough top lines.” entered the season fi nale tied Brandon. For the second year in and won in the countback fi rst possibly in our eyes over- start considering our fi nishing TYLER PLANTE: “After the all- with 65 points each and a game a row, the Brandon Wheat Kings overall in the regular season, I achieved but we knew we were record. After that we went on a star game, I remember heading against each other in Winnipeg. were regular season champions, had full-on confi dence that we good enough to hopefully win seven-game winning streak and into every game and being very The Wheat Kings held the fi rst something that would eventu- would be able to make another that thing. It was challenging I think at that point everyone confi dent we were going to win tie-breaker with two more victo- ally prove very meaningful. run because we did that in their throughout the playoffs, there started getting so confi dent. that game on a nightly basis. ries, so they needed a win or tie RYAN HALLIDAY: “We were building. Home-ice advantage, were some hard-fought battles, We knew we had a lot of depth. There are only a few times in to take fi rst place. down by one with about 15 sec- both in 2003 and 2004, ended up but our guys stepped up. We had Our young 15-year-olds were my career I can say that, even Joel Malchuk tied the game for onds left and the faceoff was in mattering to us.” the ability to play four lines and stepping up with absolutely no when you’re heading into the Brandon in the second period, their end and we called a time- TYLER DITTMER: “We played roll four lines consistently and shyness and we kind of started other rink on the road. You know but Darcy Zajac put Winnipeg out. We needed a tie or better to the last game of the regular sea- we were very comfortable with getting excited. We were a very you’re going to get two points. up 2-1 in the third period. Cue fi nish in fi rst place. We scored son, and if we tied or won, we playing all of our defence. Obvi- close-knit group and it just kind There’s no better feeling in the the heroics. with 10 seconds left and that fi nished fi rst. It’s funny how that ously, our goaltending was out- of gelled from there.” world than when you’re that Ryan Halliday scored with gave us fi rst place.” little game decided who had standing.” CRAIG ANDERSON: “At confi dent in each other you’re nine seconds remaining to tie MATT OSTASH: “The mo- home-ice advantage in Game 5. » THURSDAY’S BRANDON Christmas time, we started to going to get the job done.” the game, sealing the deal for ment that we tied that game We were very thrilled to win that SUN: The league playoffs begin. Raptors tip off bizarre season tonight TODAY IN SPORTS BY LORI EWING a bubble in Orlando, whether ON TELEVISION we’re here, whether we’re com- • NCAA FOOTBALL — Louisiana Tech squares off with Before team president Masai ing back, we play sports to win. Georgia Southern in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 2 Ujiri placed the lucky toonie in All of us believe in that,” Ujiri p.m. (TSN2) the Raptors’ new practice fl oor, said. the team president held it aloft “You are going to have adver- • WORLD JUNIORS — Canada faces Russia in a preseason and said: “This is for the Tampa sity. You are going to have things matchup, 5 p.m. (TSN3); Czech Republic plays Slovakia, 8:30 Bay Raptaneers.” that get in the way, but we have p.m. (TSN3) The joke was a reference to that mindset as an organization • NBA — Washigton Wizards visit the Philadelphia 76ers, 6 Toronto’s temporary NFL neigh- and I’m really proud of them for p.m. (SN1); Milwaukee Bucks and the tip bours, the Buccaneers. And it this. Wherever we are playing off, 6:30 p.m. (SNW); New Orleans Pelicans face the Toronto said plenty about the bizarre (the playoffs next summer) we 6:30 p.m. (TSN1) season the Raptors are about to will try our best.” Raptors, ; host the Dallas begin. On the fl oor, Lowry will quar- Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. (SNW) The Raptors host New Or- terback a new-look lineup after leans on Wednesday to tip off a a hectic, abbreviated free agen- IN LOCAL HISTORY new season. Any other year, Kyle cy period saw Serge Ibaka and • 30 YEARS AGO — Bernie Martine scored four goals to Lowry and a new-look lineup guard drives around Charlotte Marc Gasol leave. Ujiri signed would dominate the storylines. Aron Baynes to help replace lead the visiting Minnedosa Bombers to a 7-3 triumph over the Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels during an NBA preseason Boissevain Border Kings in SouthWest Hockey League action. But this isn’t any other year. game last week. Flynn, selected by the Raptors in the fi rst them. • 40 YEARS AGO — Brian Simpson and Stacy Pratt Due to Canada’s travel restric- round of the 2020 NBA Draft, is ready to prove his worth this And if the Raptors have tions around COVID-19, the season. (Associated Press) proved anything, it’s their ability scored three goals each to lead the visiting Brandon Junior B’s Raptors are forced to play at to overcome player departures. to a 9-7 come-from-behind victory over the Neepawa Natives least the fi rst half of a 72-game emony on opening night at Sco- a while but I think we’ll all get Toronto had its best regular sea- in SouthWest Hockey League action. schedule in Tampa, Fla. The tiabank Arena, a limited crowd used to the weirdness of this son in franchise history after Raptors have tried to make the of 3,800 fans will be at Amalie year quickly.” losing and Dan- city on Florida’s west coast feel for tonight’s opener because of The global pandemic could ny Green in free agency, going like home, building a new prac- COVID-19 protocols. play the big spoiler this season. 53-19 with a 73.6 win percentage IN OTHER NEWS tice facility in in a downtown “I understand what goes into For now, the league has released before the pandemic shut down Marriott, and hanging the team’s making this thing work . . . I the schedule up to March, and last season. Boasting a defence SCHRAM AWARDED NATIONAL HONOUR 2019 NBA championship banner think everything is in place to the Raptors would love to move that was second in the league, Brandonite Bobbi Schram received a national honour on from the rafters of Amalie Arena ensure that we can be as safe as back to Toronto for the second they clinched the No. 2 spot in Monday. alongside Lightning star Vincent possible,” Raptors guard Fred half. the NBA. earned She was the Manitoba recipient of the 2020 Canada Soccer Lacavalier’s retired jersey. VanVleet said. But if not? coach of the year honours. Nation Champions award. A year after more than 20,000 “It was a little weird (during “We want to win. We want to “I’m thinking we were prob- The annual recognition campaign focused on honouring fans celebrated the Raptors’ the pre-season) being back in play . So, whether we ably in a similar-ish situation volunteers who supported their club or academy on proto- NBA championship ring cer- front of fans for the fi rst time in are in Naples, whether we are in last year,” Nurse said on the eve cols under Canada Soccer’s Return-to-Soccer guidelines in of the opener. “I don’t think any- 2020. body thought super highly of Schram provided vital support to the Westman Regional our team going into last year. So, Soccer Association in its return to the pitch this year, after all what I do know is we compete sanctioned soccer was suspended in March 2020 because of very hard and we’ve got a really the COVID-19 pandemic. good core group of guys that’s » The Brandon Sun won a lot of games and they know how to win. “There’s a lot of specialness MARSHALL SIGNS EXTENSION WITH ROUGHRIDERS inside some of these guys and REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed they certainly show that a lot of American defensive back Nick Marshall to a one-year con- times. So I’m excited to see the tract extension. ball go up for real and watch us Marshall returns for a third season after recording fi ve tack- bring out our real competitive les, fi ve interceptions, one touchdown and one fumble recov- edge that we seem to play with.” ery last season. One of the most promising Marshall was a quarterback in the college ranks at Auburn, storylines is the play of Mala- leading the Tigers to an appearance in the national champi- Share the joy of your new arrival with chi Flynn, picked No. 29 in last onship game in 2014. Marshall switched to defensive back before entering the Brandon Sun readers by placing a birth month’s draft. The was impressive during the pro ranks. He spent time with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars announcement that will appear in the team’s three pre-season games, and New York Jets and the Indoor Football League’s Arizona th but can’t wait for his regular- Rattlers before entering the CFL. January 28 edition of Westman This th season debut. Week as well as Saturday, January 30 . “Defi nitely,” he said. “Pre- STAMPS SIGN RECEIVER YN TAYLO R season is overrated, it doesn’t The Calgary Stampeders have signed American receiver BRAEL count, so, the real thing starts Josh Huff. DANIELS $ 95 (Wednesday) and it’s something A member of the Stampeders until opting out of his con- 24 to be excited for.” tract on Aug. 31, Huff would have been eligible for free agency , 2020 Born on March 19th + GST The emergence of OG An- on Feb. 9. Calgary retained and exercised the right to sign him aniels Daughter of Brian & Kate D unoby last season, particularly to a new contract prior to the start of the free-agency period. of Brandon, MB in the Disney bubble, was a big Huff had 37 catches for 491 yards and one touchdown in 10 f Email picture and announcement to Beautiful granddaughter o boost for the Raptors. Ujiri re- games for Calgary last season. Ron & June Smith & [email protected] or call warded the forward on Monday A third-round pick of Philadelphia in the 2014 NFL draft, Kayla & Jack Moss 204-571-7400 for more information with a four-year contract exten- Hugg played 34 games with the Eagles and three games with sion reportedly worth US$72 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. million. » Wire Services » The Canadian Press