RED DEER, Alta. – Brandon Wheat Kings players emerged from Wednesday’s morning practice wearing shorts, flip flops and hoodies. Except for Ivan Provorov: He wore a full suit and dress shoes.
The Russian defenceman, the Philadelphia Flyers‘ seventh overall pick in 2015, means business.
“We haven’t played well, at all,” said Provorov, straight-faced. “We haven’t showed our game yet. We’ll be better today – we’ll simplify our game. We’ll get to work.”
The Wheaties had better.
It’s win or go home for the Wheat Kings, the CHL’s No. 1-ranked team heading into this season, and one of the league’s highest-scoring throughout the year, as they face the host Red Deer Rebels tonight in the MasterCard Memorial Cup at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.
It’s the first time they’ve faced elimination all season.
It’s easy to see where Brandon’s problems lie: They haven’t gotten their usual offence this tournament. The lone team without a win thus far (0-2), the Wheat Kings have scored just four goals in Red Deer. London’s Mitch Marner alone is averaging as many points (slightly more, actually) every game.
New Jersey Devils prospect John Quenneville and Provorov lead Brandon in scoring, with two points apiece. The consensus No. 1 pick for 2017, centreman Nolan Patrick, has been limited to one assist in two games, after a 102-point regular season. Forward and Florida Panthers prospect Jayce Hawryluk had 106 points in the regular season, and he’s pointless in Red Deer.
“When we had success winning the league our top players were fantastic,” said head coach Kelly McCrimmon. “They really were. That’s why we won. … I think a lot of us have more to give.
“With the stakes where we’re at tonight, that’s gonna be what we do.”
To advance to Friday’s semi-final, Brandon has to win Wednesday by three goals or more. A win of three or fewer would pit them in a tiebreaker on Thursday against Rouyn-Noranda.
“Our focus is gonna be on winning,” McCrimmon said. “We have to win, or our tournament’s over. That’s gonna be where it’s at for us. I’m sure Red Deer isn’t going into the game thinking they’ve got a cushion. They’re going into the game to win as well.”
Provorov said what happened in Games 1 and 2 doesn’t matter.
“It’s all behind us, and right now we gotta focus on one game.”
Provorov, who’s from Yaroslavl, moved to North America when he was 14 because he figured it gave him the best shot at the NHL. He smiles thinking back to his draft day.
But you won’t see many smiles when he talks about his Memorial Cup run, even if you get him talking about the perfect pass he threaded up ice to Quenneville in Game 2 that saw his teammate score a ridiculous through the legs goal that’ll play on highlight reels for years in a game that ended in a 5-3 loss to the Huskies.
Suggested that might’ve been the highlight of their tournament so far, Provorov wasn’t having any of that.
“We have to work harder,” he said, for the second time. “Simplify our game and get pucks to the net. That’s what we have to do.”