Played on Jan 14, 2026
Game Played in SaskTel Centre
General Game Notes: It was a low scoring game that forced both teams to lean heavily on their defensive structure, an uncommon look in the WHL, but one that allowed different aspects of players games to stand out. Ultimately, the game came down to which team would make fewer mistakes, and the Wheat Kings won that battle. Both goaltenders were impressive as well, each delivering strong individual performances.
Filip Ruzicka (G, L, 6’6″, 204, Brandon Wheat Kings, 03/24/2008)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Ruzicka is a towering goalie who can move, and move well. He has the athleticism to make cross crease saves and made one of them late in the first period to keep his team up by one. He surprises when rebounds land in front of him, how quickly can react and get back into position given how big he is. He does a good job at getting out of his net to stop the rim and play the puck. He gets his body around the puck, shoulder checks, and is able to make direct outlet passes. He made a couple of impressive stops tonight that kept his team in the game and earned him one of the players of the game.
Brady Turko (RW, R, 5’11”, 167, Brandon Wheat Kings, 09/12/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Turko is at his best when he is looking to move his feet first then make a play second. Too many times tonight he is stationary when wanting to create something while a jump out of a dead stop could have solved this problem a couple of times. His skating is fine and needs to use it more often. He has enough size and drive to his game where he could be a little more net front nasty. He made a couple good breakout plays where he was able to protect the puck with his body, ward off the pinching defender, and find the middle out of the zone. One of the harder plays to make under pressure.
Prabh Bhathal (C, L, 6’2″, 198, Brandon Wheat Kings, 05/14/2009)
Game Rating
B+
Bhathal is a well-rounded player with a strong two-way skill set. He excels at making smart choices in the offensive zone, using his feet to create space and find open teammates. When he’s engaged, Bhathal sees the ice clearly and can drive play forward. His aggressive playing style is also a strength, demonstrating poise and a willingness to take on opponents. While consistency issues in his own zone were evident tonight, they appear to be related to decision-making rather than a lack of work ethic.
1 Viewing
Comments: Bhathal scored the game winner tonight for the Wheat Kings. While not the most fancy puck possessor, he did a lot of little things right to earn a goal. He may not be the most fleet of foot, but Bhathal plays with a high level of fluidity and control. He protects the puck well, stays over it through contact, and consistently comes out of scrums with possession. Strong on his skates, he is effective in all three zones and shows a strong commitment to his defensive responsibilities as a forward.
Jaxon Jacobson (LW, L, 5’10”, 181, Brandon Wheat Kings, 12/11/2008)
Game Rating
B+
Jacobson’s strong skillset is evident on the ice, as he consistently looks for ways to create scoring opportunities despite being in tight spaces. His ability to release the puck quickly and shoot from various angles contributes to his average two-point production per game. While Jacobson struggles defensively, his positioning suggests that he’s capable of making an impact without being a liability.
1 Viewing
Comments: Jacobson was able to show that he is a creative winger who can play with pace and consistently execute difficult plays. While he is not particularly big or naturally physical and can be steered to the outside at times, he still finds ways to win battles around the perimeter and create offense in traffic. His compete level stands out, as he plays much bigger than his frame and is often the one initiating contact rather than avoiding it.
Jordan Gavin (LW, L, 5’11”, 188, Brandon Wheat Kings, 11/13/2006)
Game Rating
A
Jordan Gavin showcases a well-rounded skill set that makes him a valuable asset on the ice. His soft hands allow him to make intricate passes in tight spaces, creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Gavin’s elusiveness also makes him difficult to defend against, as he can evade contact with his quick movements. His speed is a significant strength, enabling him to create breakaways and odd man rushes by beating bigger defenders. When on the attack, Gavin takes calculated risks, often finding creative ways to get past opponents. Defensively, Gavin’s intelligence and work ethic make up for any size disadvantages, as he pressures the puck carrier relentlessly and makes smart decisions with possession.
1 Viewing
Comments: Gavin was able to show throughout the night that he is an energetic forechecker who creates turnovers, never gives up on a play, and becomes a shooting threat whenever he has time and space in the offensive zone. At his best, he plays with pace, intensity, and a relentless work rate, using his skating to fly around the ice to create opportunities and will plays into existence. He brings a scrappy edge to his game that makes him difficult to play against, especially against smaller defenseman where he can expose their size by holding on to pucks longer. He plays confident with the puck making small area dishes under pressure.
Grayson Burzynski (D, L, 6’4″, 212, Brandon Wheat Kings, 06/04/2005, RPI)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Burzynski scored a nice goal on the power play getting his shot through from the point. The offensive defenseman displayed poise and skill during this play by being able to move the puck around effectively drawing defenders in, then picking the right time to shoot when a lane presented itself. With all that being said, to be able to find a corner from that distance, Burzynski needs to be able to rip this with some power and accuracy and he was able to show that not only on this goal, but multiple other times he let the puck fly. His size and ability to be mobile allows him to be effective in his own end as well.
Jimmy Egan (C, L, 6’2″, 183, Brandon Wheat Kings, 03/19/2008, Arizona State)
Game Rating
B+
Egan’s speed and agility make them a formidable opponent, as they quickly reach top speed and excel when pushing the puck forward. Their physical attributes also provide an advantage, with solid size and feet that allow for effective skating. However, decision-making appears to be an area of improvement, as they sometimes struggle with throwing pucks into contested areas. Despite this, their work ethic is commendable, and they consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to the game. While there may be some room for development in terms of east-west agility, they show flashes of brilliance when making plays that catch opponents off guard. Overall, this player’s skills are a mixed bag, with both promising moments and areas for growth.
1 Viewing
Comments: With an assist on the game winning goal, Egan showed a determination despite limited minutes, to produce. He has great size and strength to play both the role of an imposing forward and a skilled one. When he has time and space, he can use his jump to get past defenders and when in tight, he reverses physicality in order to maintain that time and space. He could benefit from shooting more often, too many times tonight he would get into a fine shooting area and opt to pass the puck. The better looking play is not always the better play but he wants to make it known he has some skill to create some plays from nothing.
Nicholas Johnson (C, R, 6’1″, 201, Brandon Wheat Kings, 01/20/2005, Ferris State)
Game Rating
A-
Johnson is a physical presence on the ice who combines size with skilled play. He excels at controlling the puck, using his body to shield it from defenders in tight spaces. On breakaways, he has shown the ability to power past goalies. Johnson’s playing style creates opportunities for offense, making him a threat in both physical and skilled aspects. His rough, hard-nosed approach is complemented by sneaky offensive abilities, including puck protection, crease cleaning, and net screening. While not a spectacular skater, he can create time and space to make plays. Johnson’s awareness and playmaking ability allow him to draw defenders in and find open passing options.
1 Viewing
Comments: Johnson showed tonight that he is a solid skater with strong puck handling and shooting ability, capable of attacking off the rush, circling the offensive zone, and catching goaltenders off guard with his quick release. He is comfortable spending time around the net and creating offense from the interior. While a power forward identity is often expected given his size, he shows the versatility and skill to impact the game in multiple ways. One knock tonight is that, at times, he was passive in the defensive zone watching opponents fly around him when he has the skating ability to shut them down.
Zachery Olsen (C, R, 6’1″, 190, Saskatoon Blades, 03/16/2008, Colorado College)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Olsen buried home a one timer right in the slot tonight to put him team within one late in the third period. As he drifted into the slot, the puck found him and he wasted no time bearing down to find some net right under the goalies blocker. The smooth skating forward does a good job at not only creating time and space but preserving it with agile moves that keep defenders on their toes. He was at his best tonight off the rush being creative by either cutting back up, cutting to the middle, or just using his strong frame to drive the net. One of the better parts to his game is that with his skating, he has all these options to go to.
David Lewandowski (LW, L, 6’1″, 177, Saskatoon Blades, 02/20/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Lewandowski showed tonight that he plays at a slower pace than ideal at times and can spend too much time operating on the perimeter. That said, he possesses excellent technical passing ability and is a shifty forward with good size and a hard, dangerous snap shot. He has the ability to elevate the play of those around him. He scans the ice extremely well both with and without the puck, consistently positioning himself in dangerous areas to create offense. Not his best game by any means tonight, but him not at his best is still very effective.
Hayden Harsanyi (LW, L, 5’9″, 175, Saskatoon Blades, 01/10/2007, Colorado College)
Game Rating
B
Harsanyi’s speed and agility are notable assets in the offensive zone, allowing him to navigate through pressure situations with ease. He effectively utilizes his stickhandling skills to beat defenders and create scoring opportunities. By keeping the puck close to his body, he exposes defenders looking to take it away, and demonstrates a high level of puck possession. However, Harsanyi’s smaller stature presents a physical challenge, as he may struggle to maintain stability against larger opponents. He must work on developing his ability to absorb contact and remain balanced on his feet.
1 Viewing
Comments: Harsanyi was able to show tonight that he is a quick, fast skater who can vary his pace and challenge defenders both in straight lines and through cuts and turn-backs. He is a flashy forward, and has the ability to break open a shift. Throughout the game he showed improved awareness in using his teammates effectively rather than trying to do everything himself. In the offensive zone, he stays active and engaged, moving the puck and repositioning himself to generate scoring chances. His defensive game, however, remains a work in progress, given his size, he tends to lose battles defensively.
Kazden Mathies (C, L, 5’11”, 190, Saskatoon Blades, 04/07/2007)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Mathies showed that when engaged defensively, he creates turnovers and quickly transitions up ice with the puck on his stick. Opponents are forced to respect his speed and puck skill, adjusting their gap control accordingly. He plays an efficient game, conserving energy by avoiding low impact areas of the ice but often looks like he is just floating around. His routes are smart and purposeful, allowing him to arrive on time on the forecheck or slip into the net front with timing and intent, where he was at his best tonight.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images