Offensive Outburst Puts Pats Ahead of Raiders
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (1-1) picked up their first win of the pre-season on Friday night in a 7-4 scoreline over the Prince Albert Raiders (0-1). Colton Kroeker and Jake Elmer led the Pats with two goals and an assist each. Jake Leschyshyn scored shorthanded and had two assists for a three point night as well. Jordan Hollett made 33 saves in the win.
In the first period Jared McAmmond almost gave the Pats the early lead on a dumb in that went over the head of goaltender Curtis Meger and hit the cross bar but it stayed out. Regina got the games first and second powerplays, did not score on the first and just 40 seconds into the second took a penalty of their own. The Pats did eventually open the scoring at 13:24. Colton Kroeker scored his first in his first game with assists to Riley Woods who centered from behind the net and Riley Krane and it was 1-0. Less than two minutes later the Pats took the 2-0 lead when Jake Leschyshyn made a great pass in front to Jake Elmer who sent it off the top corner post and in for his first. Brady Pouteau the second assist at 15:16 and it was a 2-0 game. On their 3rd powerplay the Pats extended the lead to 3. Colton Kroeker was left all alone in front, made a nice move and beat Meger 5-hole at 18:21. Assists to Riley Woods and Riley Krane. All three with two points in the period. The Raiders got one back however 33 seconds later. Brennan Riddle the goal from Thomas Lenchyshyn and Dylan Stewart at 18:54 and it was 3-1. That was the score at the intermission with the Raiders leading the shots on goal 10-9.
In the second frame Jake Elmer scored his second goal of the game at 3:47. Robbie Holmes with the nice feed from below the goal line for the initial helper, Jake Leschyshyn the second and it was 4-1. Less than a minute later the Pats went up 5-1 as Trygve Many Guns snapped home his second of the pre-season with assists to Jared McAmmond and Gary Haden at 4:43. The Pats continued the onslaught and at 6:44 made it 6-1, Erik Gardiner banged in a loose puck for his 1st with assists to Colton Kroeker and Zachary Cox. Halfway through the 2nd the Raiders changed goaltenders. Ian Scott came in for Curtis Meger. Prince Albert were able to find their second goal of the contest a short time later. A fluttering puck went in and Cody Thompson was credited with the goal at the 11 minute mark and it was a 6-2 Pats lead. That was the score after 40 minutes, the Raiders outshot the Pats 12-9 in the frame and led 22-18 overall.
In the final period the Raiders got the game to within 3 at the 4:50 mark. Josh Maser was left all alone in the slot and snapped his 1st of the pre-season 5-hole and it was a 6-3 scoreline. The Pats went to a 1:48, 5 on 3 powerplay after that but failed to convert. However on Prince Albert powerplay Jake Leschyshyn took a loose puck after Jake Elmer forced a turnover. Leschyshyn on the breakaway made a great move and scored his 1st at 11:27 and the Pats led 7-3. The Raiders got back within 3 at 16:19 when Reid Gardiner hit Carson Miller in the slot and he fired in his 1st and it was 7-4 at that point. That was the final. The Raiders outshot the Pats 37-26 in the game.
The Pats conclude their pre-season tournament on Saturday at 7 o’clock against the Moose Jaw Warriors on 620 CKRM.
