RECAP: Kieper backstops Pats to first Hub win
REGINA – The Regina Pats youth movement reached another milestone Wednesday night, and this time it was in the crease.
Making just his second Western Hockey League start and first inside the WHL East Division Hub, Matthew Kieper backstopped the Regiment to a 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos, as the Pats earned their first win of the 2020-21 season.
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“It feels good and I know that wins and losses mean everything in sports, at least they do in my world,” said Pats head coach Dave Struch, while praising his team’s effort so far this season at the Brandt Centre.
“To actually have the ‘W’ in the column is a really good feeling.”
A big part of delivering that winning feeling was Regina’s netminder. Kieper, a Winnipeg, Man. product, made the most of his 2020-21 debut, stopping 33 of the 35 shots fired his way to pick up his first WHL win.
“He came in with a lot of energy and our guys played really hard in front of him and it was a well-deserved win, because he played really hard for the players,” Struch pointed out.
Put that puck on the mantle!
A night Matthew Kieper won’t soon forget.#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/YzJznLEUFw
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 18, 2021
Kieper, whose only other start came in October of 2019 against Lethbridge, was forced to refocus early after an unlucky opening goal from Swift Current just 2:23 into the first period.
“I really worked on my mental game and just resetting after something happens, because I just can’t control what happens in front of me. I just make sure that when an unlucky play like that happens I just do my best to reset myself and get ready for the play ahead and just stop what I can stop,” Kieper said of regrouping after Swift’s opener to Michael Farren, whose initial shot was stopped by Kieper before deflecting off Pats defender Makai Mitchell into the net.
The rookie goalie certainly moved on quickly, setting the table for a familiar offensive tandem to lead the way, as the dynamic duo of Carson Denomie and Connor Bedard went to work.
Denomie evened the score for the Pats at the 12:11 mark of the first, putting home a rebound after a strong drive to the net by Cole Dubinsky. The former Moose Jaw Warrior added his second of the night and sixth of the season just over four minutes later, making no mistake on a nifty backhand feed from Bedard.
Speaking of the 15-year-old phenom, Bedard kept his remarkable start to his WHL career rolling, scoring the eventual game-winner just 53 seconds into the second period, bringing his point tally to eight.
“We finally played a full 60 minutes,” Denomie, who’s had Bedard assist on four of his six goals, pointed out. “We knew coming in we would need to play a full 60 and need all 20 guys. Everyone bought in, everyone was bearing down, and it was just a good team effort.”
The victory, which improved Regina’s record to 1-2-1-0 on the season, comes at an opportune time for the Pats, who will have a positive feeling heading into an off day Thursday, before returning for practice Friday, and then game action Saturday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
“It hasn’t been that bad, because we’re playing games and these guys have obviously waited a long time to do this,” Struch explained of getting accustomed to hub life.
“Going into tomorrow we’re going to stay right away from the rink here, enjoy the day – it’ll be nice to enjoy it after a victory. Hopefully spend some time outdoors and do some team building stuff.”
For Struch, Wednesday’s St. Patrick’s Day affair was the payoff after a strong start to the season that had yet to yield the ultimate goal.
“I feel that we’ve played really good hockey throughout the start here,” Struch commented. “Obviously the wins aren’t there, but the overall competitiveness and execution of our play has been good. We just hadn’t got the wins to show for it until tonight.”
The Pats return to the Brandt Centre for their first look at the Brandon Wheat Kings Saturday. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. CST (AccessNow TV / WHL Live / 620 CKRM).
