Wheat Kings' Brandon Regier

Brandon, Manitoba -- With the start of Training camp less than a month away, the Brandon Wheat Kings are excited to announce that highly touted 15-year old prospect Brandon Regier has committed to the Western Hockey League club.

The 6' 180 lb right-winger was Brandon's first pick (17th overall) in this year's bantam draft in Calgary. As a member of the Abbotsford bantam Hawks this past season, Regier scored 49 goals and 72 points in 55 games, while accumulating 164 minutes in penalties.

Regier, who was one of the standouts at the club's Spring Evaluation Camp in May, is the highest drafted BC born player to be chosen by the Wheat Kings. Former captain Ryan Craig of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning was a second round pick of Brandon (34th overall) in 1997.

“We are pleased that Brandon has committed to join the organization,“ says Brandon coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon. “He is a strong, physical player that will be a good addition to our team in the future.“

Western Manitoba hockey fans will have an opportunity to see more of Regier when the team's Rookie Camp begins on Tuesday, April 28th.

In other Wheat King news, with the 15th Annual Wheat Kings' Hockey School set to begin this weekend, the WHL club has announced that there are a few openings remaining for the weeklong event to be held in Westman Place at the Keystone Centre.

As of Friday, there were a limited number available in the pee wee, atom and novice divisions.

Headlining this year's long list of instructors are former captain Ryan Craig of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning and Wheat King assistant coaches Dwayne Gylywoychuk and Darren Ritchie. Among the many current and ex-Wheat Kings helping out with this year's School are Lance Monych, Ryan Robson, Codey Burki, Ryan Reaves, Riley Day, Andrew Clark, Chad Erb, Tim Konsorada, Daryl Boyle, Colby Robak, Tyler Dittmer, Cale Jefferies, Mark Louis, Mark Derlago and Jay Fehr.