PREVIEW: Pats Continue Home Stand Against Tri-City

The Regina Pats (27-4-6-1) continue their four game home stand on Friday night against the Tri-City Americans (26-17-3-0). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats are coming off a 4-1 loss at home to the Moose Jaw Warriors last Saturday which snapped a four game winning streak. The Americans were in Brandon on Wednesday and won 5-2. They are 4-0-0-0 so far on their East Division road trip. Tonight is the first and only meeting of the season between the Pats and Americans. The game can be heard on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey beginning at 6:35 p.m.

Lead Up: Pats Drop First Home Regulation Game to Warriors
The Regina Pats dropped their first home regulation game of the season on Saturday night, 4-1 to the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Warriors scored twice in the opening two minutes, added one in the second and then scored an empty netter late in the victory. Sam Steel scored the Pats lone goal in the first period, his 31st of the season. The Pats outshot the Warriors 40-37 in the loss. Tyler Brown stopped 33 of 36 and received third star honours. Zach Sawchenko made 39 saves for Moose Jaw and was named the games first star.

Pats and Rebels Complete Blockbuster Trade
On Tuesday Pats acquired 18-year-old defenceman Josh Mahura, 18-year-old forward Jeff de Wit and a conditional third round pick in 2019 from Red Deer. In exchange, the Pats send 18-year-old forward Lane Zablocki, 16-year-old defenceman Dawson Barteaux, a first round pick in 2017 and a first rounder in either 2018 or 2019 to Red Deer. The Pats send a conditional third in 2020 to the Rebels as well. Mahura, a third round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2016, has nine goals and 24 assists in 39 games this season. de Wit has four goals and nine assists in 36 games. Both were members of the Rebels Memorial Cup team in 2016. Zablocki was acquired by the Pats from the Prince George Cougars in 2015. He had 27 goals and 35 assists in 105 games in Regina. Barteaux, a first round pick of the Pats in 2015, suited up for 18 games this year and recorded two assists.

Pats Add Pierce, Reassign Bruce
The Pats have recalled 16-year-old forward Duncan Pierce from the Winnipeg Thrashers of the MMHL. The club has also reassigned 17-year-old defenceman Riley Bruce to the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL. Pierce, a listed player, has 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 25 games this season. He represented Manitoba at the 2015 Western Canada Challenge Cup and won a silver medal. Bruce played in 18 games this season, scoring once and adding two assists to go along with 13 penalty minutes. The Pats roster now sits with 13 forwards, seven defencemen and three goaltenders.

Steel on Fire
The WHL’s leading scorer Sam Steel is on a goal scoring tear in his last three games. The signed Anaheim Ducks prospect has scored six times over the Pats last three contests. In 32 games this season, Steel has scored 31 times, which is third most in the league. His goals per game is number one in the league at 0.97. The Sherwood Park, AB product currently leads the WHL in scoring with 70 points and has been kept of the score sheet just five times in 32 games.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats Vs Prince Albert – Saturday January 14, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats @ Prince Albert – Sunday January 15, 4 p.m. – Art Hauser Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Medicine Hat – Friday January 20, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)