Great game by Gardiner gases Wheat Kings
Red Gardiner’s shorthanded goal at 12:51 of the third period stood up as the winner as the Prince Albert Raiders rebounded from Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss against Saskatoon with a 3-2 win over the Wheat Kings in Brandon.
The 19-year old winger chipped a backhander past Brandon goalie Jordan Papirny after Raider defenseman Jesse Lees’ relentless forechecking resulted in the puck bouncing in front of the Wheat King net right to Gardiner. Gardiner’s first period snipe on a Prince Albert power play gave the Raiders an early 2-0 lead and ended the team’s 0-for-21 funk with the man advantage.
Meanwhile Lees assisted on Luke Coleman’s sensational game opening goal just 2:10 into the first period. Coleman outraced the Brandon defense down the left wing, cut through the crease and scored on a forehand to backhand move and now has six goals on the season.
The Wheat Kings battled back to tie the game on goals by Luke Harrison late in the first period and Kale Clague about 7-minutes into the second period.


