PREVIEW: Pats Host Wheat Kings in Battle for 3rd Place
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats (5-7-0) host the Brandon Wheat Kings (5-8-0) in the third game of the Pats six game homestand on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., inside the Brandt Centre.
The Pats are coming off a 4-3 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Wednesday, extending their winning-streak to three straight games since they snapped their seven game skid on October 29th in Swift Current. The Regiment scored a season high three goals in the second period, taking a 4-3 lead into the final frame before holding onto the victory, outshooting the Warriors 14-7 in the third.
Tanner Howe (2A), Zack Stringer (1G-1A) and Zack Smith (1G-1A) led the way with multi-point efforts while Matthew Kieper made 33 saves on 36 shots for his third straight win, which is the longest of his career. Luke Bateman scored his first in a Pats uniform, and Braxton Whitehead and Smith scored their first goals of the year. The final shots were 45-36 for the Pats, with Regina going 2-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
For the Wheat Kings, they are coming off a 5-3 loss at home against Red Deer on Friday, November 5th and have now dropped their last two games and five of their last six games since their three game winning-streak came to an end on October 22nd. The Wheat Kings currently have five players on the injured list, with most notably Ridly Greig and Vincent Iorio out with day-to-day upper body injuries.
The Pats need to watch out for forward Rylen Roersma who scored twice in the loss on Friday for his first career two goal game, and fourth multi-point effort of the season. The 17-year-old forward now has six goals and five assists over his last nine games. 19-year-old forward Nolan Ritchie also tallied two assists last night, and continues to lead the Wheat Kings in scoring with 13 points while tied for first on the club in goals (6) and assists (7). Defenceman Chad Nychuk has five goals this season, which leads all defencemen in the WHL.
MATCH UP
|
Brandon |
Regina |
|
| Team Record | 5-8-0-0 — 10 points | 5-7-0-0 — 10 points |
| Division Ranking | 5th East | 4th East |
| Conference Ranking | 8th Eastern | 7th Eastern |
| League Ranking | 14th | 13th |
| Past 10 Games | 4-6-0-0 | 3-7-0-0 |
| Streak | 0-2-0-0 | 3-0-0-0 |
| Last Game | 5-3 L vs RD | 4-3 W vs MJ |
| Home Record | 2-4-0-0 | 3-3-0-0 |
| Away Record | 3-4-0-0 | 2-4-0-0 |
| GF | 37 | 37 |
| GA | 65 | 41 |
| PP (Overall) | (10/59) 16.9% | (12/46) 26.1% |
| PP (Home) | (6/26) 23.1% | (7/19) 36.8% |
| PP (Away) | (4/33) 12.1% | (5/27) 18.5% |
| PK (Overall) | (15/61) 75.4% | (13/59) 78.0% |
| PK (Home) | (5/23) 78.3% | (7/23) 69.6% |
| PK (Away) | (10/38) 73.7% | (6/36) 83.3% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (1/3) 33.3% | (1/4) 25% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (1/4) 75% | (1/3) 66.7% |
| Leading Rookie | Roersma (6-5-11) | Svozil (0-6-6) |
| Most PIM | Greig – 22 | Nijhoff – 21 |
| Team PIM/GM | 14.4/Game | 15.1/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Ritchie (6-7-13) | Dubinsky (7-5-12) |
| Roersma (6-5-11) | Evans (2-10-12) | |
| Greig (5-6-11) | Bedard (6-4-10) | |
| Nychuk (5-2-7) | Nijhoff (4-5-9) | |
| Zimmer (2-5-7) | Smith (1-7-8) |
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
- Radio: 620ckrm.com
- Stream: WHL Live
HEAD TO HEAD
2021-22 HEAD TO HEAD
| Date | Road | Home | Time | Result |
| October 10th | Brandon | Regina | 4:00 p.m. MDT | 4-2 L |
| November 6th | Brandon | Regina | 7:00 p.m. MDT | |
| December 11th | Regina | Brandon | 7:00 p.m. CST | |
| January 21st | Regina | Brandon | 7:00 p.m. CST | |
| January 22nd | Regina | Brandon | 7:00 p.m. CST | |
| March 2nd | Brandon | Regina | 7:00 p.m. CST | |
| March 26th | Brandon | Regina | 7:00 p.m. CDT |
This will mark the second of seven meetings this season and the second of three in the first half.
Last season, the Regina Pats went 1-2-1-0 against the Wheat Kings, going to overtime in two of those four contests…the Pats won 2-1 in overtime, while losing 3-2 in overtime, 7-2 and 5-2. Brandon and Regina have faced off 459 times all-time coming into today’s play, going 201-219-21-12-6, all-time. The Pats are 7-8-1-2 since the 2018-19 season, with 10 of those 18 games being decided by one goal.
The last time these two teams met was on Sunday, October 10 inside the Brandt Centre, with the Wheat Kings defeating the Pats, 4-2. That game was tied up until the third period, when the Wheat Kings took the lead and then added two empty-net goals. Logen Hammett, Chad Nychuk (2), and Rylen Roersma scored for Brandon, while Carson Bjarnason made 39 saves on 41 shots for his first career WHL win. The Pats got goals in that game from Cole Dubinsky and Cole Carrier. The final shots were 41-27 for Regina.
HEADLINES
- The Pats have won their last three games since their seven game losing-streak came to an end on Friday, October 29th in Swift Current…over their last three games, the Pats have outscored opponents 15-to-7, outshooting the opposition 132-to-91, averaging 44 shots on net per game…the Pats power play has also scored in three straight games (5-for-12, 41.6%).
- In Wednesday’s win over the Moose Jaw Warriors the Pats penalty kill went a perfect 3-for-3, not allowing a power play goal against for the first time since October 1st (a span of 10 games).
- Rookie forward Zane Rowan was named the Pats Academic Player of the Month for October…the 2004 born Lomita, CA, native is currently completing seven online grade 12 courses and is maintaining a 95.68 GPA.
- Regina Pats Assistant Coach Brad Herauf and Director of Hockey Operations Landon Watson were named to Hockey Canada’s U-17 Staff on Friday.
BY THE NUMBERS
2: Straight multi-point games for Pats forward Tanner Howe…he scored a short-handed goal and an assist against Swift Current and two assists against Moose Jaw…he is one of three rookies to score a short-handed goal in the WHL, and is fifth among rookies in shooting % (2-for-9).
3: Straight wins for goaltender Matthew Kieper is a new career high…over his last three starts, the Winnipeg native has stopped 84 of 91, good for a 2.33 goals-against average and .923 save percentage…he is ranked a “C” level prospect by NHL Central Scouting.
165: Faceoff wins for Pats captain Logan Nijhoff is the second best in the WHL ahead of Prince Albert’s Reece Vitelli (172)…he went 16-26 on the faceoff dot on Wednesday against Moose Jaw…he just had his career high five game point-streak come to an end last game (3G/3A).
68: Shots on goal for Regina Pats forward Connor Bedard leads the WHL…the Vancouver native is averaging 5.66 shots on net per contest this season and holds an 11.33% shooting percentage, along with six goals and 10 points in 12 games.
12: Number of points (2G-10A) for Regina Pats defenceman Ryker Evans is tied for third amongst defenceman in in the WHL, while his 10 assists ranks tied for fourth…the Calgary, AB, native also ranks tied for fourth among defencemen in power play points with six.
UP NEXT
7:00 p.m., Wednesday, Nov 10th – Red Deer Rebels (9-5-1) at Regina Pats (5-7-0)
7:00 p.m., Friday, Nov 12th – Edmonton Oil Kings (8-3-2) at Regina Pats (5-7-0)
7:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov 13th – Lethbridge Hurricanes (5-6-0) at Regina Pats (5-7-0)
7:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov 20th – Regina Pats (5-7-0) at Moose Jaw Warriors (5-7-0)
