PREVIEW: Pats Visit Wheat Kings, Looking For First Win
Regina, Sask. — The Regina Pats will look to bounce back from a tough season-opening loss when they visit the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday at Assiniboine Credit Union Place.
REGULAR SEASON GAME #2 | Regina Pats (0-1-0-0) at Brandon Wheat Kings (1-0-0-0)
| Date | Time | Friday, September 25 | 7:00pm |
| Place | Assiniboine Credit Union Place |
| Live Stats | Click Here |
| Roster | Click Here |
| Game Notes | Click Here |
| Stats | Click Here |
| What’s Next | Next Game: Sunday, September 27 vs. Swift Current |
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PREVIEW
The Pats enter the second game of the 2026-27 WHL season with an 0-1 record following a 7-4 loss to the Prince Albert Raiders last Friday at the Art Hauser Centre. Regina battled back from three separate three-goal deficits, trailing 5-4 after 40 minutes before the Raiders added two goals in the third period. Keets Fawcett led the Pats offensively with a pair of goals, while Ellis Mieyette recorded a goal and an assist and Jace Egland also found the back of the net. Ossi Tukio chipped in with two assists. The Raiders held a 29-24 edge in shots, while Regina finished 2-for-4 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Brandon, meanwhile, opened its season with a 5-4 victory over the Saskatoon Blades on Friday. Goaltender Rylee Budd was outstanding in the win, turning aside 42 of 46 shots, while Ilari Kapanen paced the Wheat Kings with a four-point performance, scoring twice and adding two assists. Chase Surkan, Prabh Bhathal and Colin Grubb also scored for Brandon. The Blades held a 46-30 advantage in shots, including a 23-8 edge in the third period. Saskatoon went 2-for-7 on the power play, while Brandon finished 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Friday marks the first of eight meetings between the Pats and Wheat Kings this season. Regina went 2-5-1 against Brandon during the 2025-26 campaign and owns an 11-16-2-1 record against the Wheat Kings over the last five seasons. In Brandon during that span, the Pats are 6-7-2-0.
WHO TO WATCH
Zach Lansard is expected to return to the lineup tonight, and is our player to watch after suiting up in two NHL pre-season games with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes 2026 third round pick tallied a career-high 56 points (24G-32A) in 68 games last season with Regina.
The Pats will have to keep a close eye on a pair of dangerous Wheat Kings forwards in Jaxon Jacobson and Joby Baumuller. Baumuller was one of just eight WHL players to score 40 or more goals last season, finishing with 62 points (40G-22A) in 58 games. Jacobson, meanwhile, enters the season as one of the top prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft after posting a career-high 85 points (25G-60A) in 63 games last season. His 60 assists ranked fourth in the WHL.
COMING UP
The Regina Pats return to action on Sunday, September 27 when they host the Swift Current Broncos at the Brandt Centre at 2pm. That will be the Pats only home game until October 9 when they welcome the Prince Albert Raiders to the Brandt Centre. In between, Regina will head on a mini Alberta road trip where they will take on Edmonton on October 2 and Calgary on October 4.
