Luka Burzan notched two goals and the Brandon Wheat Kings won their first game of the 2019-20 season on Saturday night against the Winnipeg ICE.
One night after they went down 3-0 in a 3-2 loss, Brandon started things differently on Saturday.
It took Ben McCartney just 3:31 to light the lamp in front of a jam packed crowd at the Wayne Fleming Arena as Brandon went up 1-0.
Braden Schneider and Chad Nychuk got the assists.
The Winnipeg ICE didn’t seem phased one bit, however. They scored two straight goals to end the first.
At the 6:22 mark, Michal Teply continued his solid start to the season as he tied things up. It was his second of the season on the power play. Brad Ginnell and Marco Creta had the two assists.
After an assist, Brad Ginnell kept it going. He scored his first of the season as Creta earned his second assist and Connor McClennon got his first.
Teply’s first goal was at the 6:22 mark and Ginnell’s was at the 9:56 mark.
Despite holding a 2-1 record after 20, Winnipeg couldn’t keep it going after that.
Burzan scored his first goal of the game just 49 seconds into the second to tie it up.
The Burzan show continued shortly after. He scored the game-winning goal on the power play at the 4:33 mark. Ben McCartney added the lone assist.
With a 3-2 lead going into the third, Brandon finished things off in the final frame.
Jonny Hooker set up Lynden McCallum who scored the insurance marker with 2:54 left in the third.
The Brandon win evens up the “Manitoba Battle” at one. Eight more meetings are ahead.
The next one is set for Monday, November 11 at 2:30 at Westoba Place.
Winnipeg heads to Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Regina for a three-in-three next weekend.
Brandon, meanwhile, has a home-and-home with Moose Jaw. Friday’s game is at Westoba Place at 7:30 p.m.
ICINGS:
- Both goaltenders made 30+ saves on the night. Patera made 33 while McNabb made 35 for Winnipeg in the loss.
- Connor McClennon had an assist and he led the ICE with six shots.
- Four Brandon players combined for 54 penalty minutes. McCartney had 20 while Schneider and Daley had 12. Salame had 10.
- For Winnipeg, three players combined for 36 penalty minutes. Pederson, Ginnell, and McClennon all had 12.
