Brown Takes Reins as Pats Face Broncos
Regina Pats at Swift Current Broncos (7 p.m.) – Credit Union Iplex
620 CKRM, WHL Live Web TV
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (7-6-1-0) take on the Swift Current Broncos (6-8-2-0) in the teams’ first meeting since the 2015 WHL Playoffs. Prior to their four games to none series victory over the Broncos in the playoffs, the Pats held a 3-5-0-0 record against Swift Current in the regular season. Adam Brooks led returning Pats players with four points (3G, 1A) in seven games against the Broncos. In the playoffs, Brooks racked up six points (4G, 2A) in four games. The Pats head into this evening’s matchup on a winning note after a 4-3 overtime victory in Moose Jaw Saturday afternoon. Tonight’s game can be heard on 620 CKRM beginning at 6:35 p.m.
The Pats shifted their youth focus to the goaltending position yesterday, trading overage goaltender Daniel Wapple to the Vancouver Giants for a 2017 fourth round WHL Bantam Draft pick. The Saskatoon, SK product posted a posting a 46-23-5-7 record with a 3.01 GAA, 0.907 SV% and two shutouts in 84 appearances with the Pats. The Blue and White also recalled 16-year old goaltender Jordan Hollett from the Ridge Meadows Flames (PJHL). Hollett was tied for 5th in the league in save percentage (0.923) and tied for 1st in average shots faced per game (42).
The deal means it’s Tyler Brown’s (’97) opportunity to step up and take control of the team from between the pipes. Brown heads into today’s game with a 2-3-0-0 record off a 3.65 GAA and 0.903 SV% on the season. Pats Head Coach and GM John Paddock is confident in his new starting netminder.
“Tyler is the number one goaltender here. He’s proven from the day he came here last year that he would challenge and get to get to this spot. That’s what he is,” Paddock told the media today. “If you’ve seen the games in Moose Jaw, Lethbridge in Edmonton I don’t think there’s any question (Brown’s ready).”
The Blue and White are a little shorthanded this weekend lacking Connor Hobbs (upper body injury), Rykr Cole (upper body injury), Aaron Macklin (suspension) and Jake Leschyshyn (World U17 Challenge). As a result it will be all hands on deck for the Blue and White to fill those gaps. Sergey Zborovskiy returns to the lineup after missing one game with an upper body injury to help bolster the defence. Colby Williams remains out of the lineup.
Tune in to tonight’s game on 620 CKRM with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey starting at 6:35 p.m. You can watch the action live online with WHL Live Web TV.
