Festive Pats End First Half Against Warriors
Regina Pats vs. Moose Jaw Warriors (7 p.m.) – Brandt Centre
620 CKRM, WHL Live
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (15-15-2-2) close out their pre-Christmas schedule against the Moose Jaw Warriors (16-12-4-1) at the Brandt Centre (7 p.m.). It’s the sixth meeting of the season between the two rivals with the Pats holding a 2-2-0-1 record against the Warriors. The previous matchup between the teams saw the Warriors take a 4-3 shootout victory. Sam Steel gave the Pats a 3-2 lead in the third, but Jayden Halbgewachs tied the game and Dryden Hunt won it in the shootout. Steel leads the Pats with five points (3G, 2A) in five games against the Warriors this season. The Pats come into this evening’s action hoping to snap a three game slide before the break following a 6-4 loss to Saskatoon last night. Tonight’s game can be heard on 620 CKRM beginning at 6:35 p.m.
It’s Christmas Sweater Night at the Brandt Centre. The Pats don their festive Christmas Sweater jerseys and fans are encouraged to break out the best, worst and most festive attire in their closets. Fans dressed for the season will have the opportunity to win prizes at tonight’s game. For those hoping to bring home the special edition jerseys, the Christmas Sweater Jerseys will be available for silent auction until the second intermission when they will be sold in a live auction setting.
For the second game in a row, the Pats spotted their opposition a healthy lead before trying to climb out of the hole. The Blades led 5-0 in the third period before Adam Brooks’ goal five minutes in gave the Pats life. Colton Kroeker and Austin Wagner scored over the next five minutes to put the game in reach. Taylor Cooper cashed in on the powerplay with three minutes left to pull the Blue and White within one. They couldn’t get the final tally to complete the comeback as an empty netter sealed their fate in a 6-4 loss to Saskatoon.
Tonight marks the close of the unofficial first half of the Pats’ 2014-15 season. The team comes in with a 15-15-2-2 record good for fourth in the East Division and the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pats are a -13 in goal differential having scored 104 while allowing 117. Through the first half, the Pats powerplay has a 14.6% success rate (21st) while the penalty kill works at 76.3% efficiency (18th). Adam Brooks has a healthy lead in the points category with 45 on the season. Aaron Macklin leads the penalty minutes category with 69.
The 19-year old had a first half to remember. Brooks is just 17 points off the 64 game total he put up in 2014-15. His 45 points (17G, 28A) is tied for fourth in WHL scoring with Dryden Hunt and Kailer Yamamoto. Brooks is currently on a five game point streak with 8 points (3G, 5A) over that stretch. The Pats’ leading scorer knows the team needs to find consistency through three periods of play.
“If we can come out strong and continue that for sixty minutes… I know we say that a lot and it’s tough to play sixty minutes of a complete game, but if we can limit the opportunities we give up we’ll be okay.”
Defenceman Liam Schioler joined the team yesterday and saw his first action. The Pats’ 2nd round pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft posted a +1 plus/minus rating in his time on the ice. Schioler is happy to get in a couple of games before the Christmas break.
“I’ve been here for a bit, so I’ve kind of been around, but it’s good to get into a game as quickly as I can. You don’t want to be sitting around too long and waiting so I’m glad I came here before Christmas to get the first few games under my belt.”
Tickets for tonight’s Christmas Sweater Game are available at Ticketmaster.ca, the Brandt Centre Box Office and Safeway locations throughout Regina.
