Brandon, MB (CKLQ) – The Brandon Wheat Kings held a pre-season media reception on Thursday afternoon at Canad Inns. The unofficial kickoff to the season acts as a platform for the front office and hockey operations departments to bring the media and fans up to speed on the off-season and the preparations that go into a Western Hockey League season.
Along with the club announcing season ticket numbers and the 2018 training camp schedule, the Wheat Kings announced that 19-year-old import goaltender Jiri Patera has signed with the club and will be in town in time for training camp next week.
Patera, who was a 6th round NHL Draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights spent last season with Cedar Rapids of the USHL, is the first European goaltender selected by Brandon in the CHL’s annual Import Draft.
"We expect Jiri to come in and push for that #1 spot, as we do Dylan Myskiw," said Wheat Kings GM Grant Armstrong. "We’re lucky to have two goaltenders at this point that we feel can play big minutes for us in this league."
Patera is one of three import players on the BWK roster. Martin Kaut (Colorado) and Erik Brannstrom (Vegas) will head to their respective NHL camps prior to making a decision on where they will play out the season.
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WHEAT KINGS HIRE NEW ATHLETIC THERAPIST
There will be one new face on the Brandon Wheat Kings bench this season. Roman Kaszczij takes over from Chris Trivieri as the club’s Athletic Therapist and Strength Coach.
"RJ" as he is better known, worked the last two years in the Ontario Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs and has experience with the Toronto Blue Jays, Hockey Canada and the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
"It’s been a seamless transition so far," said Kaszczij "Everyone in the organization here has been extremely welcoming and it’s been fantastic. Its a bit of a change of pace from what i’m used to but i’m really excited to get started."
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OTHER NOTES FROM THE RECEPTION
-Season tickets have surpassed the 2000 mark for the upcoming season. 2,036 season tickets have been sold as of Thursday.
-Four Wheat Kings will attend NHL training camps in the coming weeks, Ty Lewis (Colorado), Cole Reinhardt (Colorado), Luka Burzan (Ottawa) & Stelio Mattheos (Carolina).
-19 players from last year’s team are expected to be in training camp at Westoba Place next week.
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2018 Training Camp Schedule
Rookie Camp
Tuesday, August 28th
Rookie Camp Registration
Wednesday, August 29th
8:30am Team Black Practice
10:30am Gold vs. White
5:00pm Team Gold Practice
7:00pm Black vs. White
Thursday, August 30th
8:30am Team White Practice
10:30am Black vs. Gold
6:00pm Rookie Scrimmages
Main Camp
Friday, August 31st
8:30am Team Black Practice
10:30am Gold vs. White
12:30pm Goalie Session
5:00pm Team Gold Practice
7:00pm Black vs. White
Saturday, September 1st
8:30am Team White Practice
10:30am Black vs. Gold
6:00pm Main Camp Scrimmage
Sunday, September 2nd
2:00pm Canad Inns Intrasquad Game
