Blazers Host Wheaties

The first of six east division teams to roll through Kamloops is the Brandon Wheat Kings.

-Last night Brandon ended a 9-game losing skid with a 3-1 win in Kelowna. The Wheaties are on a grueling seven game trip spanning 11 nights. You would have to look a long ways back to check the last time Brandon dropped nine in a row.

- A couple of storylines in this game - former Blazer Shayne Wiebe and former Wheat Kings Jordan DePape and Jesse Sinatynski meet their former teams.

Wiebe, named the Wheat Kings' captain this year, scored once and added an assist last night in Kelowna. Jordan DePape collected the game winner against Calgary in the Blazers last game.

- Brandon looks a whole lot different than they did last season. The turnover was immense after hosting the Memorial Cup. The Wheat Kings blue-line is a mere shadow of what it was a year ago. Out: Alexander Urbom, Colby Robak, Mark Schneider, and Travis Hamonic. They are missing three of their top four and four of their top six defensemen from last season.

The Wheat Kings dressed four rookie defenseman last night in Kelowna. Jordan Fransoo, Ryan Pulock, Spencer Galbraith and Rene Hunter

- Up front, A couple of pieces remain from last year's team. Namely Scott Glennie. He's scored only twice this season though. Mark Stone, Shayne Wiebe, and Brendan Walker make up the core of their offense.

The Wheat Kings graduated or moved on forwards who accounted for nearly 200 goals last season. Brent Raedeke (23), Brayden Schenn (34), Matt Calvert (47), Aaron Lewadniuk (37), Toni Rajala (26), and Jay Fehr (26)

- We will be joined in the intermission from Vancouver Canucks TV/Radio broadcaster John Shorthouse.

The Canucks pulled off a 4-3 OT win over the Colorado Avalanche last night in Vancouver. As a carrier of Canucks games on Radio NL, it should be interesting to talk to John about the growing spotlight on the team in Vancouver and entire province.