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| Taylor Cooper had a hat-trick for Brandon in their season opener Friday in Moose Jaw |
Cooper, Mr. Opening Night, scored the first goal of the Wheat Kings' regular season for the second straight year and then added the game-winning and insurance goals for his first career WHL hat-trick.
The 18-year old Cooper scored nine goals as a rookie in 2012-2013 and Brandon GM/Coach Kelly McCrimmon felt his skating ability will allow him to score even more this year.
"Part of it for Taylor is realizing that he needs to use it, and he pulled away from people tonight and that's what allowed him to get each of his goals, first and foremost, was speed," said McCrimmon on CKLQ's post-game show, "And then, great shots. They were goal-scorers' goals, every one of them were real good plays."
Jens Meilleur had a goal and two assists for the Wheat Kings while Ryley Lindgren notched his first career goal and Richard Nejezchleb added an empty-net goal for Brandon.
Curtis Honey had a solid night in the Wheat Kings' net, stopping 36 shots including all nine he faced in the third period.
"Probably had the fewest shots on goal in the third period relative to the first or second, but I thought he made his best saves in the third period," said McCrimmon, "He made some really good stops where he was aggressive and he was out. When you win on the road, you're going to need some saves from the goalie somewhere along the line."
The win came at a bit of a price for the Wheat Kings as fourth-yaer defenceman Rene Hunter left the game in the first period with an apparent head injury.
His status for Brandon's home opener against the Warriors on Saturday night is uncertain.
Chaff...the Dallas Stars announced Friday that former Brandon Wheat Kings Scott Glennie will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks with a knee injury. Glennie sustained the injury in Dallas' pre-season game Wednesday against Florida.
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