RECAP: Regina’s comeback effort falls short in OT loss to Wheat Kings
REGINA – Goals from Connor Bedard and Ryker Evans were enough to secure a single point Saturday night, as the Regina Pats fell 3-2 in overtime to the Brandon Wheat Kings at the Brandt Centre.
The Pats trailed 2-0 to the talented Wheat Kings just past the midway point of the game, as Lynden McCallum and Ben McCartney scored their second third goals of the season respectively to give Brandon the lead.
But goals from Bedard and Evans were enough to even the score through 60 minutes, before the eventual OT-winner from Brandon’s Nolan Ritchie.
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“That’s a hockey game right there. Two teams who played intense against each other, played physical. There’s lots of different storylines in a game against them all the time,” explained Pats head coach Dave Struch.
Among the positives on the night was the improved play of Roddy Ross. The veteran netminder, who was acquired last April in a trade with Seattle, struggled at times in his opening three games in goal for Regina, but bounced back with a 34-save performance.
“We did get hemmed in a few times and a lot of it was with our inexperience out there against some really good players on the opposition, but for the most part we got some timely saves from Roddy,” Struch pointed out.
“We were up against a team that is very aggressive and we ended up sticking with it and got one (point). It was a good night other than the outcome.”
Sparked offensively yet again by Bedard, the Pats were able to push back against the talented Wheat Kings, who feature a pair of 2020 NHL first round picks in Ridly Greig (Ottawa Senators) and Braden Schneider (New York Rangers).
???? A look at tonight’s Pats goals courtesy @AccessNowSports
???? Connor Bedard & Ryker Evans#JoinTheRegiment #SubwayWHLHub pic.twitter.com/zwjY0B2kSn
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 21, 2021
Coming into the night with four goals and four assists, Bedard made no mistake late in the second period.
The 15-year-old phenom capitalized on a Brandon turnover just inside the Pats blueline, going the distance on a clear breakaway, and finishing with a quick snapshot over the left pad of Brandon netminder Ethan Kruger.
A pair of penalties late from the Wheat Kings in the second period setup a five-on-three power play to start the third for the Regiment. Despite not being able to capitalize on that opportunity, Regina would make good on the man-advantage before the night was out.
Evans’ first of the season, setup by Zack Smith on the power play, came 6:58 into the third and stood up as the final goal in regulation.
Ritchie’s third of the season 1:40 into overtime etched the final chapter in Saturday’s story, as Regina showed grit yet again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Colin O’Brian’s Three Stars
Ryker Evans our brightest star in a 3-2 OT loss to Brandon.#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/KPBMACVgB1
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 21, 2021
“With Brandon we’ve always got a rivalry with them, so it’s always fun to play against them. They’re good competitors,” said Evans, who now has four points in five games this season.
Next up for the Pats (1-2-2-0) is a Tuesday night contest (8 p.m.), as Regina completes the East Division rotation with their first matchup against the Winnipeg ICE (3-1-0-0).