General Game Notes: WHL – Neutral Zone focused on Brandon Wheat King players who we feel have attributes to turn into NHL prospects.
| Charlie Elick | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | D | 6’3″ | 201 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Elick is a strong powerful defensive minded right shot defender. He showed a fluid stride that ended with a toe push and a return leg that returned on it’s flat edge and under his shoulder. Posture wise there were times when he got his shoulders out over his toes which lead to him being spun around or off balance but we feel as a 6’4′ young defensemen this is something that can be corrected through coaching and strength training. Offensively there were times when it looked like he made up his mind his mind that he was going to make a pass or play no matter how the situation in front of him had changed or developed. It led to passes that were to covered teammates or hard jams up the strongside wall but when he was picking up puck up off the wall or out of his feet his passes were on the money. For the game he finished sixth among Wheat King defensemen with 15:44 in total ice time including 1:08 while shorthanded. He played 0:08 of clean up on the power play. He finished the night even with 0 points, 3 shots, 1 hit, 2 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 53% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Quinn Mantei | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | D | 6’0″ | 181 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2020 | Weyburn, SK | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ 2022-2023: C |
Game Grade: A
Comments: Mantei is a smooth skating undersized left shot defenseman who showed poise and confidence in all situations. In the defensive zone he played stick on puck and showed the easy pivot that allowed him to maintain net side positioning throughout the wall battle or cycle. During offensive transition he showed looed up the strong side wall before hitting his middle option in stride and on the tape. He had the primary assist on the Wheat King’s first goal after he activated up the weakside dot-lane to receive a royal road pass. He then sold a shot before firing a pass back through the royal road for a one-timer. For the night he finished with a game high 27:33 in total ice time including a defensemen high 7:39 on the power play and being second among Wheat King defenders with 5:55 while shorthanded. He finished even with 1 assist, 0 hits, received 1 hit, had 3 shots blocked which is concerning because on each block Mantei did an extra stickhandle before releasing the shot, 2 giveaways, game high 15 takeaways and for the season he is winning 59% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Caleb Hadland | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | LW | 5’10” | 174 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Sylvan Lake, AB | 2006 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: B
Comments: Hadland is a below average sized left shot forward who played the right wing. He has a thick frame with a powerful stride and a bit of an ‘A’ frame skating base. Offensively he showed a soft first touch and the ability to one-touch passes while moving at pace. He played the left dot-lane on the power play and he showed deception or unpredictability on his passes. Hadland had 5 offensive grey area turnovers. With 5:10 remaining in the first period he showed nice athleticism when on a line rush he opened for a one-timer while coming down his off right wing. The pass was too far in front of him but he opened his stance to handle the pass with his right inside edge and still was able to get a quick snap shot off that goalie had to make a quick blocker save on. On the night he finished seventh among Wheat King forwards with 18:39 in total ice time including 4:29 on the power play and 2:04 while shorthanded. He finished even with 0 points, 3 shots, 3 grade ‘A’ opportunities, 0 hits, 5 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 50% of his 50/50 puck battles.
Roger McQueen | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | RW | 6’5″ | 192 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Saskatoon, SK | 2006 | 2024-2025: A |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: McQueen is a 6’5′, 192lbs right shot right wing October 2006 with who showed a long powerful stride while keeping his shoulders-knees-toes all in alignment. He liked to use his size and mass to drive the middle lane and force the opposing defender deep into his own zone. He seemed to always be around the net and showed a quick stick on a net front rebound with 10:15 remaining in the first period that forced the goalie to make a quick left leg save. With 17:55 remaining in the second period he showed the awareness to position himself at the top of the crease after recognizing that he was on the offensive side of his defender but unfortunately his downhill tip went wide. In the offensive zone he received two minutes for slashing the stick out of his opponent’s hands. There was no need for the penalty as his teammate was going to win the race for the loose puck and McQueen lazily used one hand to hack at the stick. He also had two shots blocked with the first coming on the power play as he tried to attack the the crease from the extended goal line and the second coming off a broken line rush where he quick sticked a bouncing puck off the defender’s shinpad. Both blocks are ok with us because he was around the crease jumping on loose pucks trying to attack the crease. For the night he placed fifth among Wheat King forwards with 20:48 in total ice time including being third among forwards with 7:46 in power play ice time. He did not kill penalties. He finished +1 with 0 points, 1 shot, 2 grade ‘A’ opportunities, 2 PIMs, had 2 shots blocked, 7 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 40% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Carter Klippenstein | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | F | 6’3″ | 170 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2022 | Lethbridge, AB | 2006 | 2024-2025: B- |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Klippenstein is a 6’3′, 170lbs left shot forward who played right wing. He showed a quick first step and the ability to withstand hard checks while keeping his feet moving. He drew a penalty with 17:55 remaining in the first by giving an exploding shoulder high in the offensive zone and them continuing to move his feet down the wall. He had two shots with the first coming on an athletic spin-o-rama after he popped into the extended goal line to be a pass receiving option. The other shot coming off a back foot snap shot from just inside the blueline with 17:35 to go in the third period. On this play we would have liked to see him look to see his middle drive who had gotten to the offensive side of the opposing defender but we do understand that the play was at the end of a shift in a one goal game (winning) so we have no issues with the smart hockey decision. ON the night he finished -1 (he got caught coming off the bench on a bad change) with 0 points, 2 shots, 5 giveaways, 4 takeaways and for the season he is winning 45% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Hayden Wheddon | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | C | 5’9″ | 178 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 2021 | Stonewall, MB | 2005 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: C
Comments: Wheddon is an undersized hard working left shot center. At this point he is still developing the core strength to needed to lengthen his stride but he showed good balance and footwork while battling in scrums along the walls. He was unfortunately -1 on goal where his defenseman tried to do too much and got stripped of the puck in his slot for a quick breakaway. On the night he finished tenth among Wheat King forwards with 5:44 in total ice time. He did not play on either special team’s unit. He finished -1 with 0 points, 1/5 on face-offs, 4 giveaways, 2 takeaways and for the season he is winning 48% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Kayden Sadhra-Kang | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | D | 6’5″ | 205 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | 2018 | Richmond, BC | 2003 | Free Agent |
Game Grade: B-
Comments: Sadhra-Kang is a 6’5′ left shot defender who is playing in his forth Western Hockey League season. At this point he knows what he is and he will defend with purpose. He showed the skating ability to surf with opposing forwards through the neutral zone. And although he is not a speed merchant he retrieved pucks with pace showing the understanding of using his body to skate in front of the forechecker so he had easy access to the puck. For the night he finished third among Wheat King defensemen with 20:09 in total ice time including a team high 6:46 while shorthanded. He did not play on the power play. He finished -1on a goal that was directly his fault as he received a pass on a control breakout and nonchalantly cut back into the middle trying to beat the Cougar’s F1. Unfortunately he was stripped of the puck allowing a breakaway and goal. He had 0 points, 1 hit, 8 giveaways with 3 coming on indirect passes up the strong side wall, 11 takeaways and for the season he is winning 64% of his 50/50 puck battles.
| Dominik Petr | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | C | 6’2″ | 167 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2023 | Ostrava, CZE | 2005 | 2023-2024: C+ |
Game Grade: C+
Comments: Petr is a tall lanky left shot center with an upright bow legged skating posture and a three quarters length stride that finished in a circular motion rather than an explosive toe snap or push. He showed the puck skills to handle hard bouncing or bobbling passes without needing to stickhandle before making the next pass. His passes were hard and he did not telegraph where his passes were going. While shooting he stayed in a very upright and although he showed a sweeping smooth release we would like to see him drive his body weight down into his stick so he can utilize the whip of his stick to generate more power. At this point in his physical development he is still lacking the power and explosiveness to drive his momentum through body contact but he showed the fearlessness to engage when the opportunity presented itself. For the night he finished third among Wheat King forwards with 23:13 in total ice time including being second on the team with 7:52 in power play ice time and first among forwards with 4:08 in shorthanded ice time. He finished even with 0 points, 1 shot, 1/5 on face-offs, had one shot blocked on the power play, 6 giveaways, 1 takeaway and for the season he is winning 57% of his 50/50 puck battles. To us his puck battles winning % is very telling about Petr’s future in professional hockey because he is still physically very light and he is a in his rookie in in both the Western League and in North American hockey.
| Ethan Eskit | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | L | G | 5’11” | 184 | Brandon Wheat Kings | 2021 | Calgary, AB | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Backed up.
| Seth Tansem | Brandon Wheat Kings | WHL | R | D | 5’11” | 185 | Prince Albert Raiders | 2021 | Kelowna, BC | 2006 | Not yet rated |
Game Grade: DND
Comments: Did not dress. Tansem is an offensive minded right shot shot defenseman who was traded from Prince Albert for a 4th round pick.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images