PR - Wheat Kings

Wheaties Stand Tall

First After Q1

The Saskatchewan Wheat Kings passed the first quarter mark of the season continuing their pace of the last fifty games of the previous season, standing first in the league with a solid .700 record. However, troubling was the fact that they have been seriously limping for the last ten games, suffering four losses whilst experiencing a weird series of injuries.

"The trouble all began when we faced the goon squads of the Misconduct and Spirit and lost a couple players in those two games," GM Tyler Young commented. "After that we overplayed some of our players to fill in for the injured players, and they became exausted and suffered injuries. It's been a painful tailspin, from which we hope we are now emerging."

During the first quarter the Kings have had some nice surprises, notably the play of newcomers Kevin Weekes, Karol Rachunek, Josh Henessey, and Eric Fehr, acquired in a risky preseason deal that saw pre-emininet netminder Roberto Luongo leave 'toontown. The continuing emergence of Dmitri Kazionov, Steve Bernier, and Matt Jones has been a badge of pride for Wheat fans and a great hope that this core of the Kings will secure the team among the league elite for the next decade.

Despite their success the Kings did not stop dealing, sending long time member and former core-prospect Scott Hartnell to the Blades for Shea Weber, and then dispatching Weber to the Saints in return for one time King Dan Sprang. The Kings also reaquired two other former Kings, Shawn Horcoff and Bryce Salvador, in a minor deal with the Clubbers.

"Overall I like how our team has played," Mr. Young stated, "but there is always room for improvement. I've said all-along that despite our President winning performance last year, and now our top spot this season, I consider the Pain the premiere team in this league, and so I'm building this team to beat them. I will not be satisfied with the success we have met with, nor should our players. Until we defeat the Pain in a best of seven playoff series we have accomplished nothing."