Jordan Weal wants to finish what he started
Courtsey Greg Harder – Leader Post
REGINA — Jordan Weal’s future with the Regina Pats may be uncertain, but he’s already guaranteed to be mentioned alongside some of the greatest players in franchise history.
With 311 career points, Weal has climbed to 11th place on the Pats’ all-time list — tied with Frank Kovaks and one point ahead of former linemate Jordan Eberle. Kovacs played a franchise-record 352 games while Eberle played 254. Weal did it in only 240.
At his current pace, Weal will finish this season with 107 points and 376 for his career. That would move him into the top five all-time, tied with Len Nielsen for fourth place behind Dale Derkatch (491), Mike Sillinger (419) and Dennis Sobchuk (416).
In addition, Weal is already No. 6 on the Pats’ all-time assists list with 203 and on pace to finish the season in third spot with 246, just ahead of Mike Sillinger (241) and Sobchuk (225) and behind Derkatch (269) and Nielsen (266).
How’s that for impressive company?
“It’s an honour,” said Weal, the top scorer in the WHL over the past three seasons. “There are some great players on the Pats’ all-time list. It’s one of the oldest franchises in all of Canada. To be among the greats is a really special thing.”
In keeping with his reputation as a skilled playmaker, Weal was quick to pass off the kudos.
“I have to give a lot of credit to my coaching staff(s) and all the people who have given me opportunities — and my teammates as well,” he said. “I’ve got the opportunity to play with some fantastic players in Regina. It has been a really fun time. You can only thank your teammates for something like that. I have to give a lot of credit to them.”
As for Weal’s place in history, here’s the kicker: In order to continue moving up the Pats’ all-time list, he has to actually finish the season in Regina. That’s far from a guarantee given the Pats’ intentions to build around their core of young players. Weal would undoubtedly fetch a handsome price, thus helping expedite the rebuilding process, but there’s also value in keeping him for a playoff push.
Make no mistake, Weal hears the trade rumours and knows full well he’ll be hearing more of them leading up to the Jan. 10 deadline.
“I think about it sometimes but I love it here,” said Weal, who hasn’t been to the playoffs since a cameo in 2007-08 at age 15. “I would want nothing more than to take this team to the playoffs. We have the team to make the playoffs this year. There’s so many young guys that we can mentor, really teach them the ropes and teach them how to win and how to be a winning team moving forward. If I got to stay here and we made the playoffs it would be a really special thing for a lot of guys.”
That said, Weal knows the drill.
“It’s a business,” he said. “(GM) Chad (Lang) is going to do what he has to do to make the team better for the future.”
Weal is determined to not let the rumour mill become a distraction. He has a pretty good idea how to handle it, having dealt with trade rumours for the first time last season. He also watched the same thing happen to former teammates like Jordan Eberle, Colten Teubert and Carter Ashton.
“They really stuck to their own game and didn’t think about it too much,” he added. “I’ll just take a page out of their book and help our team as much as I can. It’s a really fine line. You can also use it as a little motivation … but you don’t want to think about it too much because then you’re going to be holding your stick too tight. The best (solution) is just playing hockey and doing my thing and having fun and being a good leader (in order to) give us the best shot to set ourselves up for the long haul. That’s all I can really do. Whatever happens happens.”
NOTE: The Pats have assigned F Nils Moser, 18, to the Alberta junior A league’s Canmore Eagles. He had two assists in 12 games and has been a healthy scratch in four straight. “Part of the process of Nils rehabilitation and full recovery (from off-season knee surgery) is to get him more game-time and re-adjust back to the pace of the WHL,” said Lang. “With his added game-time and continued hard work, we anticipate a return to the hockey club.”
