Brandon, MB. – The Brandon Wheat Kings have learned that veteran defenceman Ryan Pilon has left the Western Hockey League club for personal reasons.

A 19-year old from Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, Pilon was expected to begin his third season with the Wheat Kings on Friday as the club opens up its Main Camp at Westman Place.

“Ryan came to me this week and told me that at this time he has lost his passion to play hockey and will be leaving the team,” says Brandon Coach and General Manager Kelly McCrimmon.

“We had a number of discussions, but his final decision was that this was what he felt he needed to do,” he added.

A former first round bantam draft choice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Pilon was chosen by the New York Islanders in the fifth round of June’s National Hockey League Draft.

In 193 career WHL games, the 4-year WHL veteran has scored 139 points, including 23 goals.

The Wheat Kings, who captured the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s Regular Season Champions, have eighteen players eligible to return to their lineup in 2015-16.