Despite putting 39 shots toward Brandon netminder Max Paddock, the Pembina Valley Hawks fell 2-1 to the Wheat Kings Friday night in Morden. 

"We just couldn't get any bounces our way in the end and we just have to learn how to score," said defence Nicholas Hatley. 

Everett Bestland scored the lone goal for Pembina Valley roughly halfway through the first period, but Brandon would reply a pair of times themselves to take the only lead they would need to win game one. Tate Popple and Jake Thomson tallied for the Wheat Kings, who now own a 1-0 series lead in the Manitoba "AAA" Midget Hockey League's best-of-five quarterfinal series. 

"It's done. You just have to forget about it and keep going. Just keep playing hard," explained Jayden McCarthy. 

Hawks goaltender Aaron Brunn made 17 saves in the loss. 

Pembina Valley was 0-for-3 on the man advantage and was 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. The one power play goal by the Wheat Kings, which was on a 5-on-3, ended up being the game winner.

The series shifts to Brandon for game two Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

"We feel if we play the way we did in the third. If we find that game for sixty minutes we are going to give Brandon's defence everything they can handle," said Hawks head coach Rylan Price. "I believe we are a fast hockey team and in the third, we found our speed. It's just a matter of taking that third period into the first period Sunday."