“Road Ice Advantage” Continues in Saskatoon-Brandon Games as Wheaties Blank Blades

Four games, and four visiting team victories when it comes to the 2021-22 season series between the Saskatoon Blades and Brandon Wheat Kings.

On Sunday, the Wheaties left SaskTel Centre with two points in the standings, scoring a goal in each period and getting 23 saves worth of shutout goaltending from Ethan Kruger in a 3-0 triumph over the Bridge City Bunch. Each team has now won twice in the other team’s building with the home team having yet to prevail. For road-weary Brandon, it gave them a 4-1-1 record away from Westoba Place since their last home game on December 30. The Wheat Kings have chosen not to play at home as long as Manitoba public health orders restrict indoor gathering sizes to 50 per cent or 250, whichever is less. Rylan Roersma, Ridly Greig and Vincent Iorio tallied for the 20-14-4 Wheaties as they are tied for fifth place in the W-H-L’s Eastern Conference with the Blue and Gold, who had a four-game winning streak snapped and dropped to 21-15-2 overall for the season. It was the Blades’ first game in eight days after having activities paused on Monday because of a COVID-19 outbreak amongst nine players and five members of the team’s Hockey Operations staff. It was the fifth time Saskatoon has been shut out this season. Their next game is Wednesday in Regina, a re-scheduled contest from January 8. Following are Les Lazaruk’s post-game show interviews with Blue and Gold head coach Brennan Sonne and Bridge City Bunch goaltender Nolan Maier, plus the official game summary courtesy the W-H-L…..

Brandon Wheat Kings 3 at Saskatoon Blades 0 – Status: Final
Sunday, January 30, 2022 – SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK

Brandon 1 1 1 – 3
Saskatoon 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period-1, Brandon, Roersma 12 (Greig, Danielson), 12:54. Penalties-Johnson Bdn (tripping), 14:47; Crnkovic Sas (hooking), 15:18; Greig Bdn (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 19:41; Rhinehart Sas (major-fighting), 19:41.

2nd Period-2, Brandon, Greig 19 (Danielson), 13:45. Penalties-Robins Sas (holding), 16:10.

3rd Period-3, Brandon, Iorio 7 19:21 (SH EN). Penalties-Hoffrogge Bdn (high sticking), 10:17; Rhinehart Sas (slashing, 10-minute misconduct), 14:51; Danielson Bdn (high sticking), 18:14.

Shots on Goal-Brandon 11-7-8-26. Saskatoon 7-8-8-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Brandon 0 / 2; Saskatoon 0 / 4.
Goalies-Brandon, Kruger 14-7-2-2 (23 shots-23 saves). Saskatoon, Maier 17-13-1-1 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-
Referees-Adam Bloski (16), Tarrington Wyonzek (137).
Linesmen-Ty Skene, Devan Thiessen (94).