RECAP: Rowan Scores Overtime Winner and Pats Secure Victory Over Tigers
Photo Credit: Keith Hershmiller Photography
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats finished off one of their biggest character wins of the season on Saturday, defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers 5-4 in overtime inside the Brandt Centre.
Zane Rowan scored the overtime winner, lifting the Pats to victory as they broke a two game losing-streak. The Pats picked up their eighth comeback win of the season, overcoming a 2-0 deficit early on in the game and two one-goal deficits in the third period.
Tye Spencer (1G-1A) and Logan Peskett (1G-1A) led the way with multi-point games, while Ewan Huet made 40 saves for his seventh win of the season. Tyson Buczkowski and Braxton Whitehead rounded out the scoring for the Pats, as they got offence from throughout the lineup.
The Tigers have now dropped their last two games and trail the Pats in the season series 2-1. Andrew Basha had four points (1G-3A), while Shane Smith, Tomas Mrsic and Hunter St. Martin rounded out the scoring. Zach Zahara made 17 saves in the loss.
FULL POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH ASST. COACH KEN SCHNEIDER
FINAL SCORE: Pats 5, Tigers 4 in OT
Click for the Official WHL Box Score
THE GOALS
First Period
1-0 Tigers at 10:35 – Shane Smith (22), assisted by Andrew Basha & Dru Krebs // The Tigers had control of the puck in the Pats zone and they worked it around where Smith found the back of the net to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead midway through the first period.
Second Period
2-0 Tigers at 5:12 – Andrew Basha (18), assisted by Josh Van Mulligan & Oasiz Wiesblatt // Basha was able to skate into the Pats’ slot and he let a wrist shot fly that beat Huet to his blocker side to extend the lead to 2-0.
2-1 Pats at 8:54 – Logan Peskett (4), assisted by Corban Almen & Zackary Shantz // Peskett’s first shot was stopped but he got his own rebound and put it on Zahara who caught the puck near the goal line, and after review it was called a goal getting the Pats on the board at 2-1.
2-2 Pats at 14:17 – Tyson Buczkowski (3), assisted by Logan Peskett & Cole Temple // Buczkowski’s shot from the left point beat a screened Zahara to the glovehand side, and the goal tied the game up at 2-2.
3-2 Tigers at 15:00 – Tomas Mrsic (11), assisted by Jack Kachkowski & Andrew Basha // Mrsic got free in the Pats zone and let a wrist shot go that beat Huet to his glove side to restore the Tigers’ one-goal lead at 3-2.
Third Period
3-3 Pats at 31 seconds – Tye Spencer (13), assisted by Ty Gibson (4-on-4) // The Pats broke in on a two-on-one and Spencer elected to shoot and his wrister beat Zahara high to the glove side, again tying the game, this time 3-3.
4-3 Tigers at 46 seconds – Hunter St. Martin (17), assisted by Andrew Basha (4-on-4) // Tigers replied with their own marker, cashing in on a two-on-one where Basha found St. Martin, and he one-timed it home to give the Tigers their one-goal lead back at 4-3.
4-4 Pats at 11:19 – Braxton Whitehead (11), assisted by Tye Spencer (4-on-4) // The Pats broke in on another two-on-one and Spencer hit Whitehead with a perfect pass which he ripped a one-timer past Zahara to tie the game up at 4-4.
Overtime
5-4 Pats at 4:25 – Zane Rowan (4), assisted by Braxton Whitehead & Keagan Slaney // The Pats broke in on a rush and Whitehead spun and sent a pass to the slot where it was tipped home by Rowan.
THE STATISTICS
SOG: Regina – 8-7-3-4–22 | Medicine Hat – 11-14-17-2–44
PP: Regina – 0/4 | Medicine Hat – 0/3
Face-offs: Regina – 41 | Medicine Hat – 27
THE GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Ewan Huet (40 saves / 44 shots)
Medicine Hat: Zach Zahara (17 saves / 22 shots)
THE 3 STARS
First: Tye Spencer – Pats (1G-1A)
Second: Andrew Basha – Tigers (1G-3A)
Third: Logan Peskett – Pats (1G-1A)
JUST NOTES
- Logan Peskett picked up his first points in eight contests with a goal and an assist. It was his third goal as a Pat and it was his first assist since December 2, 2022, a stretch of 58 games. It was also his first multi-point contest in the WHL.
- Corban Almen grabbed his first assist in three games. The 16-year-old rookie has six points on the season (2G-4A)
- Zackary Shantz picked up his first point in four games.
- Tyson Buczkowski notched his first goal as a Pat and has three points as a member of the Pats (1G-2A).
- Cole Temple has assists in two of his last three games.
- 20-year-old defenceman Ty Gibson has four assists in eight games since joining the Pats from the Everett Silvertips
- Tye Spencer had a goal and an assist, he has 10 points (7G-3A) in his last 11 games.
- Braxton Whitehead had a goal and an assist and now has 17 points (4G-13A) in his last 16 games.
- Keagan Slaney picked up an assist and now has points in back-to-back games.
- Zane Rowan scored his fourth goal of the campaign, his first career overtime winner, and his second career game-winning goal.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Pats close out January with three road games. First, the Queen City Kids travel to Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes on Friday, January 26th with an 8:00 p.m. puck-drop. They then travel to Calgary to play the Hitmen in an afternoon contest on Sunday, January 28th with a 3:00 p.m. face-off. Lastly, January closes out with the Pats’ final match-up of the season against the Blades in Saskatoon on Wednesday, January 31st at 7:00 p.m.
