Mahura & Stephenson compete in Eastern & Western Conference Final
Regina, Sask. – Josh Mahura and Chandler Stephenson are the remaining Regina Pats alumni left in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as the Eastern Conference Final begins tonight and while the Western Conference Final takes place on Friday.
Josh Mahura – Florida Panthers
Mahura helped the Panthers upset the Bruins in the opening round, defeating the number one ranked club in the NHL in seven games before taking down the favorited Toronto Maple Leafs in five contests. The St. Albert, Alta. product has played in all 12 games this post-season, picking up one assist and a +2 plus/minus rating. The Panthers will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in round three, marking their first-ever postseason meeting. This will be the second appearance for the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final, with their only other appearance coming in 1996 when they reached the Stanley Cup Final in just their third season of existence.
This past regular season, Mahura produced 16 points (4G-12A) in 82 games, setting career-highs in goals, assists, points and games played. The 6-foot, 190 lb. defenceman spent parts of four seasons with the Anaheim Ducks before joining the Panthers via waivers on October 10, 2022. That then led to a contract extension on February 20 where he signed a one-year deal worth $925,000.
Mahura was acquired by Regina Pats from the Red Deer Rebels during the 2016-17 season. In the 2017-18 season, he tallied 69 points (22G-47A) in 60 games. Florida finished the 2022-23 campaign with 92 points, going 42-32-8-1, finishing second in the Eastern Conference Wild Card standings.
Chandler Stephenson – Vegas Golden Knights
Stephenson helped the Golden Knights edge the Edmonton Oilers in six games, scoring twice in the series. He was also clutch in the opening round, scoring eight points (4G-4A), as Vegas defeated the Winnipeg Jets in five games. This post-season, he has tallied 10 points (6G-4A) in 11 contests.
The Golden Knights will play the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. They last faced off in the playoffs three years ago in the Edmonton bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Stars and Golden Knights playing in what was called the Stanley Cup Semifinals. Dallas won the series in five games before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.
In the 2022-23 regular season, Stephenson posted his second straight 60+ point season with Vegas, scoring a career-best 65 points (16G-49A) in 81 games this past season. Now in his fourth season with Vegas, the Saskatoon, Sask. product has played in 420 regular season NHL contests, recording 219 points (73G-146A). Vegas finished first in the Pacific Division, going 51-22-9-4 with 111 points.
The 5-foot-11, 190 lb. forward played for the Pats from 2010-2014, producing 89 points (30G-59A) in his final season.
