PREVIEW: Pats host Rebels looking for second win of the season

The Regina Pats (1-2-1-0) will look to get back into the win column on Sunday afternoon when they host the Red Deer Rebels (3-1-0-0). Puck drop is at 4:00 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats are coming off a 5-4 overtime loss in Moose Jaw on Friday while the Rebels lost 4-2 in Moose Jaw last night and are playing their third game in as many days. Sunday afternoon will mark the first of four meetings between the Pats and Rebels in 2017-18. Today’s game can be heard starting at 3:35 with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM.

The Lead Up: Pats lost OT Thriller in Moose Jaw
Sam Steel and Josh Mahura each had three points in their season debut on Friday night in Moose Jaw but it wasn’t enough in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Warriors. Steel got the scoring started shorthanded in the first to give the Pats a 1-0 lead. The Warriors would tie it with a powerplay goal later in the frame and then added two in the second to lead 3-1 heading to the third. That’s when the Pats powerplay went to work, Emil Oksanen scored twice, 1:45 apart and it was a 3-3 hockey game. The Warriors took the lead back on the powerplay with just under 10 minutes left but Regina drew even three minutes later when Dawson Davidson scored his first of the year on a shot from the blueline. The game went to overtime, and in the extra frame, Brett Howden scored on a breakaway to give the Warriors the extra point, 5-4 the final score. Both teams went two for five with the powerplay and Moose Jaw held the edge in shots at 38-34.

Steel and Mahura Make Immediate Impact
The Pats got some great news on Friday afternoon that Captain Sam Steel and Alternate Captain Josh Mahura were returned to the club by the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Both players appeared in two pre-season games for the Ducks, Steel picked up one assist. Steel and Mahura made their season debuts on Friday night in Moose Jaw and both came away with three points. Steel, the reigning WHL Player of the Year, scored once shorthanded and added two assists while Mahura picked up three helpers, two on the powerplay. Last year Steel led the entire CHL with 131 points, 50 of them goals and added 30 more points in 21 playoff games. Mahura scored 17 times last year and had 57 points in 73 games between the Pats and Rebels; he then went on to put up 21 points in the post-season.

Oksanen Rolling
Finnish forward Emil Oksanen is off to a solid start to his WHL career with the Pats. The 19-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2017 CHL Import Draft this summer. Through three games with Regina, he has scored twice and has two assists and is riding a three game point streak. Oksanen scored his first two WHL goals on Friday night in Moose Jaw against the Warriors. Both were on the powerplay and brought the Pats back from a 3-1 deficit. Oksanen is second in rookie scoring with his four points, two back of the leader, Kristian Reichel of the Red Deer Rebels who has six points in four games.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats @ Medicine Hat – Friday October 6, 7 p.m. – Canalta Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Saskatoon – Saturday October 7, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Saskatoon – Wednesday October 11, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)