Wheat Kings force Game 5 against Canes

By Lethbridge Herald on April 2, 2025.

Photo by Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Miguel Marques (14) and Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Dylan Ronald (5) go flying after colliding behind the net during Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at Virden's Tundra Oil and Gas Place on Wednesday. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun) April 2, 2025

The Brandon Wheat Kings staved off elimination with a 6-4 Game 4 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series on Wednesday night in Virden.

“Gutsy effort by us for the most part,” said Matt Anholt, Canes associate head coach.

“Just some ugly mistakes that can’t happen in playoffs by some individuals and we just gotta be better.”

Anholt talked about the Canes matching Brandon’s desperation level.

“It wasn’t good enough,” said Anholt.

“I think for the most part they were the better team tonight. Even though we had more shots than them, I thought (the) game could (have) went either way. But for the most part they had the better looks.”

The Wheat Kings Luke Shipley opened the scoring 8:24 into the first period when he walked into the slot and ripped a wrist shot past Jackson Unger.

Dominik Petr notched the assist on the goal.

Brayden Edwards jammed in a rebound to tie the game at one 16:08 into the first period from Vojtech Port and Kai Anderson.

Matteo Michels found the back of the net with 10 seconds left in the first period to give the Wheat Kings a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

Shipley and Brady Turco assisted on Michels second goal of the postseason.

Brayden Yager tied the game at two with a shorthanded marker 2:35 into the second period.

Nolan Flamand pushed the Wheat Kings ahead to 3-2 at the 6:35 mark of the second period.

Giorgios Pantelas and Nicholas Johnson assisted on Flamand’s goal.

Michels doubled  the Wheat Kings lead to 4-2 with 10 seconds left in the second period with the assist on the goal going to Petr

The Canes made the score 4-3 just 23 seconds into the third as Shane Smith blasted a one-timer into the net from Leo Braillard.

Jordan Gustafson tied the game at four 3:20 into the third period.

Johnson scored the go-ahead goal with 6:15 left in the game from Flamand and Adam Belusko.

Quinn Mantei scored an empty net goal with nine seconds to go in the game to make the final score 6-4 for Brandon.

Lethbridge outshot Brandon 42-32 in the game.

The Canes, who now lead the series 3-1, will look to finish off Brandon at home in Game 5 on Friday night.

“Just not shooting (ourselves) in the foot as much as we did (last night),” said Anholt.

“(The) guys will bounce  back. We got a tight-knit group here that wants to win.”