PREVIEW: Pats take four game win streak into clash with Broncos Saturday

The Regina Pats (20-18-3-0) look for a fifth consecutive win on Saturday night when they visit the Swift Current Broncos (27-10-3-0). Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. at the Credit Union Iplex. The Pats were last in action on Wednesday, beating the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2. The Broncos were in Brandon on Friday night and fell 3-2 in overtime. Tonight is the second of six meetings between the two clubs in 2017-18, The Pats hold a 0-1-0-0 record so far in the season series. The game can be heard starting at 6:35 with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey on 620 CKRM and will be broadcast on Access 7.

The Lead Up: Pats get fourth straight win Wednesday
Jared Legien scored twice and added an assist as the Pats extended their win streak to four games with a 3-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday night at the Brandt Centre. The Wheat Kings opened the scoring on the poweprlay in the first and led 1-0 after one. Matt Bradley tied it up in the second with his 25th and it was a 1-1 game after 40 minutes. In the third, Jared Legien picked up his 15th on the powerplay and the Pats led 2-1, however Brandon responded three minutes later to tie the game. With just under 10 minutes left, Legien took a pass on the left wing, drove the net and finished on the back hand for his second of the night, 16th of the year to give Regina the 3-2 lead and that was the final score. The Pats outshot the Wheat Kings 61-30, the powerplay was one for four and the penalty kill one for two.

Head to Head
Tonight is the second of six meetings on the year between the Pats and Broncos. Swift Current took the first meeting in late September 5-3 at the Brandt Centre. Matt Bradley scored twice and had an assist in the loss for the Pats while Bryce Platt scored the other Regina goal. The Broncos Glenn Gawdin, Alexi Heponiemi and Tyler Steenbergen each put up four points in the contest. The Pats are currently 16 points back of Swift who sit second in the East Division.

Steel Golden
Pats Captain Sam Steel and Team Canada won the gold medal last night at the World Junior Hockey Championships with a 3-1 win over Sweden on Friday night. Steel had an assist in the win and had at least a point in all seven games of the tournament, scoring four goals and adding five assists.

Pats Acquire Gabrielle and Harkins Friday
The Pats acquired Boston Bruins prospect forward Jesse Gabrielle and defenceman Jonas Harkins from the Prince George Cougars on Friday. In exchange, the Pats send prospects Kjell Kjemhus and Ethan McColm to the Cougars along with third and fifth round picks in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Gabrielle has been playing the first half of the season in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins. The 20-year-old has put up a goal and three assists in his first 21 games as a pro. Harkins is playing in his 17-year-old season in the WHL and has 1 assist in 14 games this year.

Upcoming Schedule
Pats Vs Prince Albert – Sunday January 7, 4 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Edmonton – Wednesday January 10, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Medicine Hat – Friday January 12, 7 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)