Wheat Kings Take 2-0 Whl Lead

Mike Leclerc scored two goals to lift the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 5-4 victory over the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League playoff action Saturday night.

The win gives the Wheat Kings a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven league final, with Game 3 at Brandon on Tuesday.

The Wheat Kings led 3-1 and 4-3 at the intermissions, despite being outshot 34-14 after two periods and 51-22 in the game.

Peter Schaefer, Marty Murray and Darren Ritchie also scored for Brandon. Kamloops’ goals came from Hnat Domenichelli, with two, Ivan Vologjaninov and Darcy Tucker.

Brian Elder made 47 saves in goal for Brandon, and Rod Branch and Randy Petruk combined for 17 stops in the Kamloops net.