PREVIEW: Pats return from Xmas break to visit Wheat Kings
The Regina Pats (9-24-0-1) return to action after the Christmas break on Thursday night on the road against the Brandon Wheat Kings (15-10-3-3). Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at Westoba Place. The Pats are coming off a 6-3 loss in Moose Jaw on December 15. The Wheat Kings last game was on the 15th as well, a 6-5 overtime victory over the Saskatoon Blades. Tonight is the third of eight meetings between Regina and Brandon, the Pats are 0-2-0-0 so far in the season series. Tonight’s game can be heard with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey starting at 6:35 p.m. on 620 CKRM
| Regular Season Comparison | Regina | Brandon | |
| Record | 9-24-0-1 | 15-10-3-3 | |
| Goals For/Against | 91/144 (-53) | 108/102 (+6) | |
| Powerplay | 16.9% (23/136) | 23.8% (29/122) | |
| Penalty Kill | 71.1% (123/173) | 69.3% (81/116) | |
| Team Save Percentage | 0.871 | 0.909 | |
| Leading Scorer | Austin Pratt (13-16-29) | Stelio Mattheos (26-22-48) | |
| Leading Scorer (Defence) | Marco Creta (2-6-8) | Zach Wytinck (2-17-19) | |
| Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT-SO) | 27-36-27-1-0 | 36-40-29-3-0 |
The Lead Up: Pats finish first half with loss in Moose Jaw
The Regina Pats concluded the first half of the 2018-19 season with a 6-3 loss in Moose Jaw December 15. The Pats got on the board early when Robbie Holmes snapped in his fifth of the year, 56 seconds into the first. The Warriors tied it up 23 seconds later thanks to Tristin Langan and it was 1-1. Moose Jaw added a powerplay goal late in the frame to take a 2-1 lead to the break. In the second, Austin Pratt tied it for Regina on the five on three powerplay, his 13th of the year to make it 2-2. Moose Jaw responded with two goals in the span of 1:53 to lead 4-2. The Pats got it back to within a goal with nine seconds left in the period, Robbie Holmes his second of the night, sixth of the year and it was 4-3 Moose Jaw after two. In the third, the Warriors scored two powerplay goals to make it 6-3 and that was the final score. The Pats and Warriors were tied on the shot clock at 27, the Regina powerplay was two for six and the penalty kill four for seven. Robbie Holmes led the offence with two goals and an assist, while Dean McNabb and Max Paddock combined to make 21 saves.
Holmes Big Night
Pats forward Robbie Holmes had his best game of the season just before the Christmas break in Moose Jaw. The 19-year-old scored twice and added an assist for a three-point night. In three games since returning from injury, Holmes has two goals and two assists to jump into fourth in team scoring with 10 points in 17 games. He has put up a career high 0.59 points-per-game this season and is on pace to surpass he previous career high of 29 points, set last year.
Streu Returns
Pats forward Sebastian Streu is back with the club after taking part in the Division One World Junior Hockey Championships in Fussen, Germany. The 19-year-old represented Team Germany who won the tournament and earned a spot in the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship. Streu appeared in five games at the tournament, picking up one assist. A dual citizen of Canada and Germany, Streu has played in six games with the Pats so far this year, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
Upcoming Schedule
Pats Vs Brandon – Friday December 28, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats @ Prince Albert – Sunday December 30, 6 p.m. – Art Hauser Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Prince Albert – Tuesday January 1, 4 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
