Brandon Wheat Kings

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"Wheat Kings" redirects here. For The Tragically Hip song, see Fully Completely.
Brandon Wheat Kings
CityBrandon, Manitoba, Canada
LeagueWestern Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionEast
Founded1936 (1936)
Home arenaWestoba Place
ColoursGold, black, white
     
General managerMarty Murray[1]
Head coachMarty Murray
Websitechl.ca/whl-wheatkings
Franchise history
1936–1938Brandon Wheat Kings (MJHL)
1938–1940Brandon Elks (MJHL)
1940–1967Brandon Wheat Kings (MJHL)
1967–presentBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Championships
Regular season titles5 (1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1995–96, 2014–15)
Playoff championshipsEd Chynoweth Cup
3 (1979, 1996, 2016) Conference Championships
5 (1995–96, 1997–98, 2004–05, 2014–15, 2015–16)
Current uniform

The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. Founded in 1936, the team was for three decades a successful junior team playing principally in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The Wheat Kings joined the Western Hockey League ahead of the 1967–68 season, and today play in the East Division of the Eastern Conference, hosting games at Keystone Centre. The team owns the best regular season record in WHL history from the 1978–79 season, when the Wheat Kings posted 58 wins and 125 points. That season, they won their first of three league championships.

History

Early years

The Wheat Kings are a spiritual successor to the Brandon Wheat City senior team that participated in the 1904 Stanley Cup Challenge, losing to the Ottawa Senators. The Wheat Kings team was founded in 1936 as a member of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), although the team was known as the Elks for a short time in the late 1930s. Playing out of Wheat City Arena, the team won eight Turnbull Cup Championships as Manitoba Junior Champions and appeared in the Memorial Cup finals in 1949 after winning the Abbott Cup as the Western Canadian junior champion. The 1949 Brandon Wheat Kings were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.[2] During the 1950s, the Wheat Kings left the MJHL for a time to play in the Big Six Intermediate Hockey League. Later, in 1964, Brandon left the MJHL again and spent two seasons playing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League instead. The team then returned to the MJHL for one season before joining the major junior Western Canada Junior Hockey League in 1967.[3]

Western Hockey League

The Wheat Kings had a challenging start in the new league—over their first nine seasons, the team posted only two winning records and won only a single playoff series. In 1970, the team moved briefly to Manex Arena, before moving to the new Keystone Centre in 1973.[4] The same year, the team began operating a farm team in the MJHL, called the Brandon Travellers, an arrangement that would last until 1980.[5] The Wheat Kings began a short period of success in 1976.[6] Led by the likes of Brian Propp, Brad McCrimmon, and Ray Allison, the team won three straight regular season titles from 1976–77 to 1978–79, advancing to two league finals and capturing their first championship in 1979, defeating the Portland Winter Hawks in 6 games in the final.[7] The Wheat Kings advanced to the Memorial Cup for the first time since 1949, again to lose in the final, this time in a 2–1 overtime defeat against the Peterborough Petes in what has been cited as one of the best finals in the tournament's history.[8] Infamously, with the team down three defencemen, McCrimmon played all but two minutes of the Memorial Cup final—he left the ice only to serve a minor penalty.[9] The Wheat Kings 1978–79 campaign set a WHL record for points with 125.[10] At the 1979 National Hockey League draft, ten members of the 1978–79 Wheat Kings were selected, including four in the first round.[6] This proved to be a peak for the club, as over the following fourteen seasons the Wheat Kings would miss the playoffs altogether eight times, and win only two playoff series.[7] One highlight came in the 1983–84 season, when Ray Ferraro set a league record with a 108-goal season.[11]

In the late 1980s, Brad McCrimmon's brother, Kelly McCrimmon, took over as team manager.[12] Under his guidance, the Wheat Kings again rose to prominence, making three finals appearances in a four-season span between 1994–95 and 1997–98. Despite losing the 1995 final, the team advanced to the Memorial Cup because they lost to the host Kamloops Blazers; at the tournament, Brandon lost the semi-final 2–1 to the Detroit Junior Red Wings.[13] Their best result came in 1995–96, when the team, coached by Bob Lowes and led on the ice by the likes of Wade Redden and Peter Schaefer, posted its first 50-win season since 1979, winning the regular season title. The team then lost only three games in the playoffs en route to its second playoff championship. The Wheat Kings thus advanced to a second consecutive Memorial Cup tournament; they again bowed out in the semi-final, losing 4–3 to Peterborough.[7] Throughout this period the Wheat Kings became a perennial playoff contender, missing the postseason only twice between 1993 and 2018.

The Wheat Kings were selected to host the 2010 Memorial Cup tournament, ensuring their fifth appearance. Led by Matt Calvert, Brayden Schenn, and Toni Rajala, Brandon put together a 50-win season, reached the Eastern Conference final and the Memorial Cup final.[14] There, the Wheat Kings lost to the Windsor Spitfires, who claimed their second straight national title.[15] Brandon would return to the Memorial Cup for a sixth time in 2016 after winning its third Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions. However, the 2016 tournament would mark the first time the team failed to advance to at least the semi-final as they dropped three straight games.[14] After the season, Kelly McCrimmon was hired by the National Hockey League's Vegas Golden Knights—his departure from Brandon marked the end of an era.[16]

In a shortened 2020–21 WHL campaign played exclusively in-division and without playoffs—the season was modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic—Brandon finished atop the East Division with an 18–4–2 record.[17] In 2022, the team hired former player Marty Murray to be its new coach and manager.[18]

Season-by-season record

The Wheat Kings facing the Calgary Hitmen in the 2007 WHL playoffs.
The Wheat Kings have played out of Keystone Centre—now Westoba Credit Union Place—since 1973.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
Manitoba Junior Hockey League
1936–37 15 10 3 2 — 74 32 22 4th MJHL
1937–38 16 13 3 0 — 116 52 26 1st MJHL
1938–39 18 14 4 0 — 102 60 28 1st MJHL Won League
1939–40 24 10 10 4 — 99 95 24 4th MJHL
1940–45 Leave due to World War II
1945–46 10 7 2 1 — 102 35 15 2nd MJHL
1946–47 16 13 2 1 — 122 50 27 1st MJHL Won League
1947–48 24 15 9 0 — 115 99 30 2nd MJHL
1948–49 30 27 3 0 — 172 72 54 1st MJHL Won League, Won Abbott Cup
Lost Memorial Cup final
1949–50 36 27 9 0 — 181 113 54 1st MJHL Won League
1950–51 36 26 8 2 — 231 123 54 1st MJHL
1951–52 36 21 14 1 — 160 144 43 2nd MJHL
1952–53 36 24 11 1 — 164 123 49 1st MJHL
1953–54 36 13 22 1 — 132 151 27 2nd MJHL
1954–58 Granted Leave
1958–59 30 15 14 1 — 152 122 31 3rd MJHL
1959–60 32 23 6 3 — 185 79 49 1st MJHL Won League
1960–61 32 24 8 0 — 219 136 48 1st MJHL
1961–62 40 26 12 2 — 238 137 54 1st MJHL Won League
1962–63 39 32 7 0 — 206 124 64 1st MJHL Won League
1963–64 30 27 1 2 — 209 67 56 1st MJHL Won League
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
1964–65 56 30 21 5 — 230 216 65 3rd SJHL
1965–66 60 32 21 7 — 283 262 71 3rd SJHL
Manitoba Junior Hockey League
1966–67 57 47 9 1 — 416 178 95 2nd MJHL Lost Final
Western Hockey League
1967–68 60 21 33 6 — 238 279 48 8th Overall Lost quarterfinal
1968–69 60 18 40 2 — 224 350 38 4th East Lost quarterfinal
1969–70 60 23 34 3 — 234 272 49 4th East Lost quarterfinal
1970–71 66 20 46 0 — 247 387 40 5th East Did not qualify
1971–72 68 35 33 0 — 338 331 70 3rd East Lost semifinal
1972–73 68 29 30 9 — 307 304 67 4th East Lost quarterfinal
1973–74 68 27 37 4 — 305 348 58 5th East Did not qualify
1974–75 70 24 35 11 — 276 320 59 4th East Lost quarterfinal
1975–76 72 34 30 8 — 341 303 76 2nd East Lost quarterfinal
1976–77 72 54 10 8 — 447 242 116 1st East Lost final
1977–78 72 46 12 14 — 424 299 106 1st East Eliminated in divisional semifinal
1978–79 72 58 5 9 — 491 230 125 1st East Won championship
Lost Memorial Cup final
1979–80 72 33 37 2 — 319 343 68 5th East Eliminated in East Division round robin
1980–81 72 29 40 3 — 342 352 61 6th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1981–82 72 34 38 0 — 372 413 68 5th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1982–83 72 21 51 0 — 327 460 42 7th East Did not qualify
1983–84 72 44 26 2 — 463 246 90 3rd East Lost East Division semifinal
1984–85 72 17 54 1 — 264 481 35 8th East Did not qualify
1985–86 72 24 46 2 — 324 438 50 7th East Did not qualify
1986–87 72 19 49 4 — 282 443 42 8th East Did not qualify
1987–88 72 26 43 3 — 348 371 55 6th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1988–89 72 25 43 4 — 286 331 54 7th East Did not qualify
1989–90 72 28 38 6 — 276 325 62 7th East Did not qualify
1990–91 72 19 51 2 — 265 380 40 8th East Did not qualify
1991–92 72 11 55 6 — 246 356 28 8th East Did not qualify
1992–93 72 43 25 4 — 347 258 90 2nd East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1993–94 72 42 25 5 — 291 251 89 2nd East Lost East Division final
1994–95 72 45 22 5 — 315 235 95 1st East Lost final
1995–96 72 52 19 1 — 369 231 105 1st East Won championship
1996–97 72 47 24 1 — 339 208 95 1st East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
1997–98 72 45 21 6 — 322 235 96 3rd East Lost final
1998–99 72 39 29 4 — 293 267 82 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
1999–2000 72 25 38 4 5 212 260 59 6th East Did not qualify
2000–01 72 32 32 5 3 244 242 72 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2001–02 72 43 23 4 2 261 210 92 1st East Lost Eastern Conference final
2002–03 72 43 17 9 3 258 187 98 1st East Lost Eastern Conference final
2003–04 72 28 32 9 3 230 224 68 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2004–05 72 45 21 5 1 255 199 96 1st East Lost final
Season GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
2005–06 72 30 32 6 4 218 259 70 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2006–07 72 41 20 3 8 258 214 94 1st East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2007–08 72 42 24 3 3 253 209 90 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2008–09 72 48 19 3 2 295 220 101 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference final
2009–10 72 50 18 1 3 321 204 104 1st East Lost Eastern Conference final
Lost Memorial Cup final
2010–11 72 32 31 1 8 281 275 73 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2011–12 72 39 28 1 4 273 257 83 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2012–13 72 24 40 4 4 189 284 56 6th East Did not qualify
2013–14 72 34 29 6 3 271 269 77 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2014–15 72 53 11 4 4 340 219 114 1st East Lost final
2015–16 72 48 18 4 2 319 197 102 1st East Won championship
2016–17 72 31 31 7 3 225 247 72 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2017–18 72 40 27 3 2 272 255 85 4th East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2018–19 68 31 29 4 4 230 243 70 4th East Did not qualify
2019–20 63 35 22 4 2 227 173 76 3rd East Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 24 18 4 2 0 104 61 38 1st East No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 68 35 28 3 2 218 242 75 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2022–23 68 26 33 8 1 212 242 61 5th East Did not qualify
2023–24 68 33 28 6 1 225 244 73 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal

Championship history

WHL Championship

Memorial Cup Championship

Players

NHL alumni

Retired numbers

The Wheat Kings raised Brad McCrimmon's number to the rafters after he was killed in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash in 2011.[4][19]

# Player
4 Brad McCrimmon

Team records

Team records for a single season[20]
Statistic Total Season
Most points 125 1978–79
Most wins 58 1978–79
Most goals for 491 1978–79
Fewest goals for 212 1999–00
Fewest goals against 187 2002–03
Most goals against 481 1984–85
Individual player records for a single season[20]
Statistic Player Total Season
Most goals Ray Ferraro 108 1983–84
Most assists Cam Plante 118 1983–84
Most points Brian Propp 194 1978–79
Most points, defenceman Cam Plante 140 1983–84
Most points, rookie Brian Propp 135 1976–77
Best GAA (goalie) Tyler Plante 2.58 2004–05
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played
Career records[20]
Statistic Player Total Career
Most goals Ron Chipperfield 261 1970–1974
Most assists Brian Propp 292 1976–1979
Most points Brian Propp 511 1976–1979
Most penalty minutes Randy Ponte 1,234 1998–2002
Most games played Dwayne Gylywoychuk 323 1989–1994
Most games played (goalie) Jordan Papirny 188 2013–2017
Most saves (goalie) Glen Hanlon 5,232 1974–1977
A Wheat Kings jersey c. 2005.

Awards

Bob Clarke Trophy (WHL top scorer)

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL player of the year)

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL rookie of the year)

Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy (WHL top defenceman)

Del Wilson Trophy (WHL top goaltender)

Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (WHL coach of the year)

Doc Seaman Trophy (WHL scholastic player of the year)

WHL Playoff MVP (Awarded since 1992)

Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup MVP)

Hap Emms Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup top goaltender)

George Parsons Trophy (Memorial Cup sportsmanship)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wheat Kings hire Marty Murray as General Manager". Wheat Kings. August 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "1949 Brandon Wheat Kings". Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27.
  3. ^ Bergson, Perry (2024-03-23). "Glen Lawson did it all for Wheat Kings". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  4. ^ a b Jordan, Kevin (2022-10-12). "Brandon Wheat Kings". WHL Arena Guide. Archived from the original on 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  5. ^ Bergson, Perry (2021-08-09). "1978-79 BWK Series — Day 12 — Kempthorne joined Brandon's 20-goal club". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  6. ^ a b Lapp, Richard M.; White, Silas (1993). Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. pp. 24–27. ISBN 1-55017-080-5.
  7. ^ a b c Bergson, Perry (2021-02-19). "Wheat Kings enjoyed boon in late 1970s". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  8. ^ Lapp, Richard; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, B.C.: Harbour Publishing. p. 191. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
  9. ^ Maki, Allan (2010-05-22). "Sweat memories for McCrimmon". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2014-11-21. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  10. ^ Drinnan, Gregg (2021-08-14). "1978-79 BWK Series — Day 17 — 1970s was a very different era". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  11. ^ Vanstone, Rob (2020-12-29). "Ray Ferraro still treasures WHL-record 108-goal season". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  12. ^ Fox, Luke (2014-11-30). "Hometown Hockey: Brandon's bond of brothers". Maclean's. Archived from the original on 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  13. ^ Lapp & Macaulay. The Memorial Cup. p. 266.
  14. ^ a b Bergson, Perry (2021-02-18). "Wheat Kings enjoy rich playoff history". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  15. ^ Iorfida, Chris (2010-05-23). "Windsor captures 2nd straight Memorial Cup". CBC Sports. Archived from the original on 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  16. ^ Ramirez, W. G. (2019-05-02). "Golden Knights promote McCrimmon to GM, retain McPhee". AP News. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  17. ^ Bergson, Perry (2021-05-06). "A look back at Brandon's 2021 season". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  18. ^ Bergson, Perry (2022-08-30). "Murray returns to Wheat Kings as general manager". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  19. ^ "McCrimmon leaves lasting legacy". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. 2011-09-08. Archived from the original on 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  20. ^ a b c "Records". Brandon Wheat Kings. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
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