Photo by Brandi Pollock
Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – It’s not a cold front moving in across the prairies, that wind you feel outside is the exhale of Wheat Kings fans from far and wide as the losing streak finally came to an end in thrilling fashion on Saturday night.
The Brandon Wheat Kings snapped their season high nine-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Red Deer Rebels in front of over 3700 fans at Westman Place.
Stelio Mattheos’ recorded a hat-trick and added an assist while scoring the game winning goal just 0:55 into the extra frame.
In similar fashion to Friday night, the Wheat Kings let a 2-1 leads after 40 minutes slip away. The Rebels got third period goals from Alex Morozoff and Josh Tarzwell to take a 3-2 lead late in regulation time.
However, rookie defenseman Chase Hartje picked a perfect time to score his first career Western Hockey League goal. The goal at 16:21 of the third period tied the game at three and sent the game to overtime.
Early in the extra frame the Rebels thought they had won the game, but the officials waved off the goal claiming "Incidental Contact on the Goaltender." Despite argument from the Rebels bench, the call would stand and the Wheat Kings would seal the deal just moments later.
Logan Thompson turned in another stellar performance between the pipes for the Wheat Kings making 33 saves. Ethan Anders took the loss for the Rebels making 20 stops in the process.
The Wheat Kings, who continue their 4-game homestand Tuesday night against the visiting Regina Pats, are now 29-18-3-2 on the season and remain in third place in the WHL’s Eastern Division.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st PERIOD
No Scoring
Shots: 8-7 Red Deer
2nd PERIOD
BWK – Stelio Matthes (34) (B.Thompson, Shearer) 11:19
R.D. – Alex Morozoff (4) (Paradis, Johnson) 13:37 PPG
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (35) (Lewis, Wytinck) 19:54 5on3
Shots: 11-8 Brandon
3rd PERIOD
R.D. – Alex Morozoff (5) (Reichel, Hagel) 2:21
R.D. – Josh Tarzwell (7) (Douglas, Herauf) 7:12 PPG
BWK – Chase Hartje (1) (Lewis, Mattheos) 16:21
Shot: 16-4 Red Deer
OVERTIME
BWK – Stelio Mattheos (36) (Gutenberg, Higson) 0:55
Final Shots: 36-24 Red Deer
