Tradition: The Regina Pats’ 5000th Game
By Pats Historian Kevin Shaw / @theblueliner
Regina, Sask. – The Regina Pats, one of the oldest and storied franchises in hockey are on the verge of celebrating a monumental milestone: their 5000th regular season game.
The Queen City Kids will suit up for the historical contest on Friday, November 15 when they face the Wheat Kings in Brandon.
When tasked with this project, there were so many directions that it could be taken so the easiest way to go about it is to focus on a few key aspects of the Pats throughout their history.
Tradition
Since their inception on October 30, 1917, the Pats have become more than just a hockey team – they are part of the fabric of the community.
The club laced up their skates for their first game on December 21, 1917, when they faced the Regina Victorias. The Pats (then known as the Patricias) opened their storied history with a 5-2 win.
The Pats would only lose one game that season and skate their way to the Corbeau Cup as Provincial Champions.
First Memorial Cup Appearance
In the 1918-19 season, the Pats went 8-2 in the regular season before sweeping their way to the first Memorial Cup Championship Final where they fell to the University of Toronto Schools.
First Memorial Cup Championship
After going a perfect 5-0 in the 1924-25 season, the Pats only lost once in the playoffs as they went on to win the Memorial Cup over the Toronto Aura Lee. The team would go on to win their second Memorial Cup five years later in 1930.
Almost 30 years
Junior hockey was not a big thing in the early days as many seasons would consist of just a couple of teams and a handful of games or less, playing for the league title before battling it out for the Provincial championship, Abbott Cup as Western Champion and then the Memorial Cup.
It took 29 years before the Pats played their 100th game. The Pats beat the hometown Prince Albert Black Hawks 4-0 on January 11, 1947. Dunc Fisher scored the winning goal early in the second period, while Keith McCutcheon notched the shutout.
Eleven months after playing in game #100, the Pats picked up win 100. On Monday, December 8, 1947, the Pats played game 121. The Pats and Saskatoon Quakers combined for 14 goals in a fight-filled 9-5 Pats win. Red Staley scored a hat-trick which included the winner with 57 seconds left in the second period.
Now that junior hockey was more mainstream, the rosters expanded, and teams started playing more games
The Western Hockey League
When the Pats left the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League after the 1965-66 season, they joined the rogue Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, which we now know as the Western Hockey League. The Pats joined the Edmonton Oil Kings, Calgary Buffaloes, Moose Jaw Canucks, Estevan Bruins, Weyburn Red Wings, and Saskatoon Blades.
Believe it or not; the Pats first game in the ‘Dub was franchise regular season game number 994. The Pats started the season on Friday, October 7, 1966, when they hosted the Oil Kings. Ken Faranski opened the scoring before the game was three-minutes old before Edmonton scored six of the next eight goals in a 6-3 Oil Kings victory.
Here is a photo of the Pats first WHL game, featuring Regina Pats captain Rich Sentes and Edmonton Oil Kings captain Ross Perkins. In the middle is Saskatchewan LT. Governor Dinny Hanbidge.
Game 1000
24 days after playing their first game in the CMJHL, the Pats laced up their skates for game 1000 when they hosted the Saskatoon Blades on November 1, 1966.
The headline in the Leader-Post read: “Lavender dulls Blades with four-goal display” after Brian Lavender lead the Pats to a dominant 8-1 win at the Exhibition Stadium.
1974 Memorial Cup
The Pats just celebrated the 50th anniversary of their last Memorial Cup win.
1973-74 regular season ended with the team goin undefeated down the stretch (9-0-1). The regular season ended with 9-7 win over the Swift Current Broncos on March 24, 1974 (game 1456). The Pats would then beat the Quebec Remparts 7-4 for their third Championship.
First Overall
In the summer of 1974, fresh off the Pats championship, standout defenceman Greg Joly got his name called first overall by the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals.
Just six years later, local hero Doug Wickenheiser was selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Wickenheiser had just come off a Pats record 89 goals in the 1979-80 season in helping lead the Pats to the 1980 Memorial Cup Tournament.
Forty-three years later it was time for another Pat’ to get drafted first overall. Fresh off a 71-goal season, Connor Bedard was the Chicago Blackhawks first selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.
First Rounders
Joining the three first overall picks that the Pats have had, 22 other players have had their names called in the first round of the NHL Draft. The first rounders include Seattle Kraken Captain Jordan Eberle (22nd in 2008, Edmonton Oilers). Hockey Hall of Famer Clark Gillies, Darren Veitch, Garth Butcher, Mike Sillinger, and Brad Stuart also went in the opening round.
There have been 128 different Pats drafted by NHL clubs since the inception of the Draft, with two players have been drafted twice.
Players
1274 skaters and 168 goaltenders have played for the Pats since their first game back in 1917.
If you did not already know, Dale Derkatch was pretty good. He is the Pats all-time leader in goals (222), assists (269), and points (491). Local products Frank Kovacs and Gerad Adams are also franchise leaders. Kovacs played 352 games and Adams had 817 penalty minutes.
Ed Staniowski holds the Pats record with 206 games played in between the pipes. Ken Walters and Art Koberinski share the Pats record with 11 shutouts (both played pre-WHL).
Coaches
51 different people have coached at least one game with the Pats. Bob Turner leads the way with 599 games in charge, helping lead the way to the 1974 Memorial Cup. He also leads in wins with 273 and loses with 263.
The legendary Al Ritchie coached the Pats to a 43-4 record in his 10 seasons in charge of the club. His teams outscored the opponents 224-66 during his tenure. Two Memorial Cup wins during his time with the club is not bad either.
4999 Breakdown
The team has 2524 wins, 2071 losses, 242 ties, 103 overtime losses, and 59 shootout losses.
2477 home games (.657 winning percentage), 2465 road games (.427%), and 57 games (.790%) played in Regina against other Regina teams.
A Legacy Built on Tradition
Enough with the numbers. When you enter the Brandt Centre and take a lap of the concourse level, a person can feel the history in the rink that has been around since the 1977 season. You head to the west side and the wall is covered in Memorial Cup finalist and champions banners of the past. Banners of Pats legends Bill Hicke, Ed Staniowski, Clark Gillies, Dennis Sobchuk, Brad Hornung, Dale Derkatch, Mike Sillinger, Doug Wickenheiser, Jordan Eberle, Jock Callander also adorn the west concourse.
Tradition Continues
How do you pick and choose things from a team that has over 100 years of history? It is impossible. Throughout the years, there have been many ups and downs, many memorable games and players for the Pats. One thing that is certain the Pats established themselves as part of Regina’s culture.
Here is to the players of the past that have donned the blue and white and to every future Pat. In this quick reflection on the franchise, game 5000 is something to celebrate. There is so much that has been accomplished and all that is yet to come.
One thing is certain for the Regina Pats, 5000 games was only the beginning. Here’s to 5000 more.
