PREVIEW: Pats Open Pre-Season vs. ICE

Regina, Sask. — The Regina Pats open up their 2021-22 pre-season schedule on Friday night at the Co-operators Centre against the Winnipeg ICE.

Tonight’s matchup will be the first of a home-and-home series with the ICE, as the Pat will travel to Winnipeg for a Saturday night tilt at 7:00 p.m. at the Rink Training Centre.

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The Pats hosted their annual Blue and White game on Tuesday night, with team Blue defeating team White 6-0. Carter Chorney and Layton Feist each scored twice, while Jacob Dewitt and Cole Carrier added the other tallies. Final shots on goal in the game were 35-22 in favour of team Blue. Kelton Pyne and Spencer Welke combined for the shutout for team White.

Regina had a 9-12-2-1 record during the shortened 2020-21 season, finishing in fifth place out of seven teams in the East Division Hub Centre standings. Connor Bedard led all WHL rookies in points (28), goals (12) and assists (16) last season despite playing in just 15 games. Defenceman Ryker Evans also finished the season with 28 points, finishing second amongst all WHL blueliners in assists (25) and paved the way for him being selected in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Seattle Kraken. Both Bedard and Evans were named East Division First Team All-Stars. Captain Logan Nijhoff also had a solid Hub season, chipping in 10 goals and 17 points.

This offseason, GM and Director of Hockey Operations John Paddock acquired former WHL first round pick Zack Stringer, 6’5” defenceman Luke Bateman and goaltender Keegan Maddocks, who join a large contingent of returning players: 22 to be exact (12 forwards, seven defencemen and two goalies).

The Winnipeg ICE, meanwhile, finished their 2020-21 campaign second in the Hub Centre East Division with an 18-5-1 record, much in part thanks to captain and graduating forward Peyton Krebs, who led the WHL in points with 43. Although Krebs has moved on, Winnipeg — like Regina — also has many familiar faces. They have 10 forwards, eight defencemen and two goalies return from last season, including Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Connor McClennon, who finished the hub season sixth in WHL scoring with 33 points (he is currently at Flyers training camp). Perhaps the biggest name for the ICE is a (sort of) new face, as 1st overall selection Matthew Savoie returns to Winnipeg after playing last season in the USHL for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, where he was over a point-per-game. He played 22 games for the ICE in 2019-20, registering seven points.

2020-21 HEAD TO HEAD:

The Pats are 5-10-1-1 against Winnipeg the last five years.

PATS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

• Saturday, September 11 at Winnipeg – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 17 at Prince Albert – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 18 vs. Prince Albert – 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 24 at Moose Jaw – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 25 vs. Moose Jaw – 7:00 p.m.

Doors at the Co-operators Centre open at 6:00 p.m., where general admission tickets will be on sale for $15, including taxes.