Two Elkhorn products helped the Brandon Midget AAA Wheat Kings to their first league championship since 2007.
Brady Frattinger and Pierce Martin both play for the 2019 Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League champions. The Wheat Kings won the league finals last week 3-1 over the Winnipeg Wild.
“For me, the best part about winning the title was having the satisfaction that all the hard work and preparation has paid off and also getting the opportunity to raise the Jack Forsyth trophy for the first time,” Martin said.
“The best part about winning the title is beating the Winnipeg Wild, which have been the defending champions for the last three years,” Frattinger said. “The last time I won a provincial championship was when I was 10 years old.”
The Wheat Kings advance to play in the Telus Cup Western Regional, which runs April 4-7 in Tisdale. The event features the host Trojans and the winners of the Saskatchewan and the Hockey Northwestern Ontario leagues. The victor will go on to the national midget AAA Telus Cup championships in Thunder Bay, April 22-28.
Martin and Frattinger were pleased to be able to win a championship together.
“Being Brady’s teammate this year was great because it made the adjustment of playing in Brandon this year a lot easier and being able to win with him too made it all more special than it already was,” Martin said.
The players commuted into Brandon for practices three times a week as well as playing a 48-game schedule. Brandon head coach Ken Schneider praised the commitment of the players and their families.
“The time and money spent is significant, and their contributions to the team have not gone unnoticed. To be successful a team needs to have all sorts of different styles of players and personalities. With rural roots of my own as a farm boy growing up in southern Saskatchewan, I have a deep appreciation for rural people and their values, work ethic, and leadership. Both Pierce and Brady demonstrate these traits that make them great teammates and more importantly quality people.”
The son of Brad and Alanna Martin played both defence and forward for the Wheat Kings this season without complaint.
“It is a tough role to change positions and, to be honest, it is not an easy one at this level,” Schneider said. “His ability to play either position has become an important piece to our team giving us more flexibility overall.”
The 17-year-old Martin had two goals and nine points in 48 games.
“Pierce’s strengths are his ability to pass and shoot the puck with authority,” Schneider said. “Pierce is a quiet guy that loves his teammates and never complains. He is well respected among his peers for his positive attitude and team-first approach. Pierce is a mature guy that is respectful and a pleasure to work with from a coach’s perspective.”
Frattinger, a 16-year-old, played right wing and some centre. The son of Terri and Trever Frattinger had nine goals and 16 points in 48 regular season games.
“Brady has seen time on the penalty kill and yet has a flair for offence,” Schneider said. “At 16, he has a chance to be a leader at the AAA midget level going forward. He is another quiet guy that just goes about his business everyday and is well respected by his peers and coaches. Brady is a good skater and play maker making him an important part of the team.”
Frattinger has enjoyed his first season at the midget AAA level.
“I’m proud to be part of the Brandon Wheat Kings,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be playing with some of the best players in Manitoba. I’ve learned a lot this year and feel it’s been great experience. I look forward to heading to Tisdale for Western Regionals.”
