Pankewicz Biding his Time

Kord Pankewicz

  It's called 'biding your time', and Wheat Kings' defenceman Kord Pankewicz is getting to know what that phrase means in spades this season.

  Pankewicz has dressed for just 23 of 47 games so far in 2013-2014, most recently filling in for veterans Eric Roy and Ryan Pulock, who missed Saturday and Wednesday's games respectively because of illness.

  It's not the ideal situation for the 17-year old, who'd obviously prefer to be in the lineup on a nightly basis.

  But, for now, Pankewicz is making the most of the situation.

  "I have to stay positive every day, come to the rink and put in the work," said Pankewicz after practice on Friday, "Myu time is going to come but I just need to wait, be patient and work as hard as I can."

  A year ago, the 5-foot-11, 202 pound Pankewicz was just into his third week of being a WHL blueliner after playing forward the entire first half of his rookie season with the Wheat Kings.

  His lack of experience on the blueline and unable to see as much game action as he'd like means Pankewicz puts a lot of importance on his practice habits.

  "Practice, I have to be sharp every you go out on the ice," said Pankewicz, "It's where I get most of minutes as of right now, and that's all right."

  Pankewicz has played well enough when given the opportunity, contributing five assists and a plus-five rating that ranks second-best among Wheat Kings' blueliners behind Taylor Green's +8.

  "I think it's just me maturing as a player and a person, being in the role that I am" said Pankewicz, "I think my playmaking is a lot better, and the plays that I do react on...to pinch or not to pinck, to step up or not step up."

  Brandon still has high hopes for the player they chose 11th overall in the 2011 Bantam Draft but, for now, he's content to be a good teammate, be supportive and, when he gets his chance, taking advantage of it.

Chaff...Wheat Kings' leading scorer John Quenneville (upper body) missed Friday's practice and is expected to be out of Brandon's lineup indefinitely...Prince George's last visit to Brandon was on October 7, 2011, a 6-3 Wheat Kings' victory...the first 2,000 fans in attendance at Saturday's game will receive a Matt Calvert bobblehead.

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