PREVIEW: Regina gets first look at rival Warriors
REGINA – March 3, 2020 seems like eons ago.
But in the world of COVID-19, that’s just five short games in the rearview mirror for the Regina Pats, who will look to emulate their performance from that night when they face the Moose Jaw Warriors Tuesday night inside the Subway WHL Hub at the Brandt Centre (8 p.m. CST).
Where to LISTEN/WATCH
- Radio: 620 CKRM & 620ckrm.com
- TV: AccessNow TV
- Stream: WHL Live
CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF GAME NOTES
That game just over a year ago was the last time Regina found the win column, skating away with a 7-4 victory over their Trans-Canada rivals in a wild affair that featured a first period penalty shot goal for the Warriors, and six combined goals in the closing frame.
Now two games into the 2020-21 regular season, both teams are into the swing of hub hockey, with the Pats having fallen 6-3 twice, while the Warriors have needed extra time both games to score victories (4-3 OT vs. Brandon and 2-1 SO vs. Prince Albert).
Your game day lineup from @MosaicCompany
Puck drop 8 p.m. CST vs. @MJWARRIORS #JoinTheRegiment #SubwayWHLHub pic.twitter.com/vQ6NI4otjY
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 16, 2021
Despite not getting the results they would want, the Pats have shown more than glimpses of the team fans can look forward to seeing when the Regiment eventually returns to the rink.
Friday it was a strong performance against the Prince Albert Raiders, which saw Regina outshoot the Raiders 31-17, while Sunday’s highlight was a two-for-two performance on the power play – the first multi-goal power play effort since January 12 of last year in a 6-3 win over Everett.
Led by rookie forward Connor Bedard and veteran linemate Carson Denomie, who both have two-goal games to their names already, Regina aims to put the pieces together against the Warriors in the first of four matchups this season between the pair.
.@Payworks By The Numbers
A VERY early look at a couple of 2023 @NHL Draft prospects. 2019-20 stats from U18 ????#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/Q5hmagGCfu
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 16, 2021
By the NUMBERS
- Moose Jaw was 1 of 6 teams the Pats won multiple games against last season.
- Regina’s 4 wins against the Warriors was the most against any opponent in ‘19-20.
- Regina’s 2 power play goals Sunday night vs. Saskatoon snapped a 25-game streak without scoring multiple power play goals. Before that, the Pats most recent multi-goal performance on the PP came in a 6-3 win January 12, 2020 against Everett (2-for-5).
- Connor Bedard leads the WHL in rookie scoring with 4 points in 2 games. Medicine Hat’s Oasiz Wiesblatt is second with 3 points in 7 games
- Tuesday is a very early matchup between 2023 NHL Draft prospects in Bedard and Moose Jaw’s Brayden Yager. The pair combined for 126 points in 80 games at the U18 level last season, with Bedard in the CSSHL and Yager in Sask. Midget AAA.
- Bedard’s first WHL goal on Friday vs. Prince Albert has racked up more than 57,000 views on Twitter alone over the weekend
- Tuesday night’s game is 9 of 84 inside the Subway WHL Hub at the Brandt Centre.
