B2 ■ SPORTS THE BRANDON SUN ■ WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4 2021 TRY TO BEAT THAT!: THE 1978-79 BRANDON WHEAT KINGS Kiessig solid on the ice, in the room BY PERRY BERGSON that team, although Lockridge DON GILLEN: “(Brant) was just on natural strength might a very strong guy, a very good Brant Kiessig wasn’t play- have been right there … He person. He was a gamer. He ing organized hockey when he was another big, strong quiet was there in the toughest of snuck onto the ice on a cold type who was very effective … games.” night when a bantam team Brant was great along the wall, DAVE CHARTIER: “If you was practising outside. He was a great penalty killer and if you hit Brant, you were going to invited to join them, promptly gave him a regular shift, he get hurt. I never saw a body led the squad in scoring and was going to get you 20 goals.” so square. I don’t how he got became a junior prospect. STEPHEN PATRICK: “Brant it and how much he worked at A natural talent, the Thun- had the big pipes on him. He it but he was a big strong kid, der Bay product was soon in- was into music and played and obviously he was a big vited to camp with Brandon, guitar. I know he was a fi re- part … He was a stud. He was a and after a year with the Mani- man. They traded him the sec- good player.” toba Junior Hockey League’s ond year and I think he scored RICK KNICKLE: “There’s a Brandon Travellers, graduated 40 goals with Medicine Hat. guy who was really deceiving full time to the Wheat Kings in Brant Kiessig He and Gussy killed penalties on the ice when you watched 1978-79. in my fi rst year and did a real Brant Kiessig became a terrifi c penalty killer while also scoring Brant play because he looked The muscular 18-year-old He was just a strong guy. I think good job. He was real strong 29 goals for the Wheat Kings. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) stiff. But the guy could shoot responded to the opportunity him and Gussy were buddies. but real quiet. He was a good the puck and was very valuable by scoring 29 goals and pro- He was happy to be there and hockey player.” ally good skater, a really good big minutes but he contrib- in big games with the third and viding an invaluable presence just went with the fl ow. He was LAURIE BOSCHMAN: two-way forward and an im- uted every time he got on the fourth line assets he brings to penalty killing. a real easy-going guy.” “Brant was very solid in his portant guy.” ice.” a team. He was a pretty quiet He returned for the 1979-80 GREGG DRINNAN (Bran- build. He was an aggressive MIKE PEROVICH: “(Brant) DAVE STEWART: “Kiesser guy … but a really good guy. season, and was dealt to the don Sun): “There’s not much player, played a key role in that was like Hercules. He was didn’t have a lot of stick-han- He was a tough nut too. Any Medicine Hat Tigers, where he doubt that he was the most year for us and was a valuable ripped … He was a nice kid, dling talent, he was more of time we had any brawls, his scored 35 goals in 51 games. chiselled player on that team, part of that team.” quiet, unassuming.” a grinder too. He was one of eyes lit up so we were ‘OK, he After a short pro hockey ca- and that was before the gym KELLY McCRIMMON: WES COULSON: “(Brant) those guys you wanted in front likes this stuff.’ He really didn’t reer, he became a fi refi ghter was as popular as it is now. The “Brant was a really good player was a stocky built guy, a strong of the net all the time. He was a play that way. He was an hon- back home in Thunder Bay. He gym certainly wasn’t the place … He was from Thunder Bay kid, and you kind of forget he tough bugger too. He was un- est player, he hit guys hard and is now retired. to hang out in the off-season and that can’t happen in this scored 29 goals, which was an derrated. He was almost like was a really solid guy. He was TIM LOCKRIDGE: “Brant in those days but he certainly era because he would have amazing feat for a guy who a bodybuilder when he came. another unsung guy.” was built like a brick s—house did. I imagine he would have been property of Ontario. He didn’t get a lot of ice time. I You didn’t see that very much » [email protected] to start with. He was square. been the strongest guy on was really big and strong, a re- don’t remember him playing back then.” » Twitter: @PerryBergson Patrick’s arrival McDonald added a huge boon for team physical edge, scoring BY PERRY BERGSON BY PERRY BERGSON It’s hard to dispute that great Dave McDonald was one of genetics run in the Patrick the three unexpected gifts that family. fell into the lap of the Brandon Brandon Wheat Kings for- Wheat Kings during the 1978- ward Stephen Patrick — he 79 season. prefers Stephen to Steve, as McDonald wasn’t getting he is widely known by in the along with the coach at the hockey world — was the son University of Minnesota Dulu- of Steve Patrick, the Glenella th so the Winnipegger left the product who played 13 sea- college team to join the Wheat sons with the Winnipeg Blue Kings, who had acquired his Bombers, including four Grey rights in a trade a year earlier. Cup championship teams. His fi rst game with the WHL Steve was later inducted into club was on Nov. 9, 1978. the Blue Bomber Hall of Fame, He was soon joined by his St. the Order of the Buffalo Hunt James Canadians teammates and the Manitoba Sports Hall Stephen Patrick and Kelly El- of Fame in 1998. Stephen Patrick joined the Brandon Wheat Kings later in the combe, giving Brandon an Stephen carved out his own season but showed an immediate ability to score in the West- important infusion of talent. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) path in professional sports, ern Hockey League. Like Patrick, whose dad Steve playing 250 National Hockey played in the Canadian foot- League games over six seasons was part of the posse, the ball League, McDonald was with the Buffalo Sabres, New Winnipeg guys with Dave Mc- the son of a professional ath- Dave McDonald provided a combination of skill and grit when York Rangers and Quebec Nor- Donald and Kelly Elcombe. lete. he left college to join the Wheat Kings. (Brandon Sun fi le photo) diques. They came a little bit later in In fact, he was nicknamed And in perhaps the ultimate the season. He was another Abby after his father Ab, who future considerations, his son guy who I gravitated to. There played 762 NHL games in 15 er. I met Dave’s parents many Nolan joined the Wheat Kings were about fi ve or six of us seasons and retired after two times and he was a chip off the 25 years after Stephen left with Dave Stewart and Kelly years in the World Hockey block.” and the third generation tal- McCrimmon and Donny Diet- Association as captain of his STEPHEN PATRICK: “Abby ent blossomed into a Western rich. We didn’t have cliques … hometown Winnipeg Jets. had a good shot and was really Hockey League star. We just had certain guys who McDonald put up 39 points good positionally … Abby was Patrick wasn’t initially sure were the same age or had girl- (19 goals and 20 assists) with always happy. He got pissed he wanted to play in the WHL, friends of girlfriends … Stevie the Wheat Kings in 1978-79, off one time against Regina — instead staying with the Mani- was a good guy and a good and surely would have be- I’ve forgotten the guy’s name toba Junior Hockey League’s player.” come their 10th 20-goal scorer — knocked his front teeth out. St. James Canadians with the TIM LOCKRIDGE: “Steve if he had played more than 43 Abby waited until the next intention of going to college. Stephen Patrick was a good guy. He was just a games. Still, he was drafted in game and beat the crap out He played a game with the big strong guy and he made a the sixth round, 123rd over- of him. Abby was strong and Wheat Kings on Nov. 11, went and scored some goals and difference. He was on the sec- all, by the Hartford Whalers in he was tough. He had a lot of home and skated with the Ca- wasn’t afraid to bang guys ond line with Stewie most of 1979. pride in playing for the Wheat nadians again, and ultimately around. He had quite a bit of the time. He was just a good He returned to the Wheat Kings.” joined Brandon for good on skill.” hockey player. He was so ath- Kings for the 1979-80 season, Dave McDonald TIM LOCKRIDGE: “(Dave) Nov. 22. BRIAN PROPP: “Stephen letic, he was six-foot-three and scoring 32 goals, before em- was a little bit of a s— disturb- Nicknamed “Archie” by his was another big strong guy could skate like the wind.” barking on a three-year pro guys liked to bug, and was just er.