Pats and Tigers Face Off on Pink Ice
Game Sponsor: Imagination Ink
Head-to-Head
The Regina Pats (5-5-0-0) face off with the Medicine Hat Tigers (7-1-1-0) for the first time in 2013-14 this season. The Tigers got the better of the Pats last year when they won three of the teams’ four meeting with the one loss coming in the shootout January 4th in Regina. Morgan Klimchuk led the way for Regina in 2012-13 with four points (3G, 1A) against Medicine Hat. The Calgary Flames draft pick scored the shootout winner in the Pats’ win over the Tigers. The Blue and White struggled to shut down Vancouver Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk last season. The speedy forward scored four goals and added seven assists for eleven points in the season series. The Pats find themselves on a four game winning streak headed into tonight while the Tigers are off to one of the best starts in the league having won seven of their first nine games. This evening’s game can be heard on 620 CKRM starting at 6:35 p.m.
Breast Cancer Awareness Night
The ice is coloured pink for the Pats’ annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night. The team will also wear commemorative pink and blue jerseys which will be available for auction on the Concourse. Pats Pink Toques will also be on sale for $10 with proceeds from the evening going to the Canadian Cancer Society’s peer support groups in Regina.
Lead Up: Pats Shred Wheat Kings 5-1
The Pats didn’t look like a team playing its third in four days in the third period against Brandon. The Blue and White scored four unanswered in the final frame with Dyson Stevenson completing a hat-trick along the way. Morgan Klimchuk finished the game with four points (1G, 3A) while Dawson MacAuley made 27 saves for his 5th win of the season.
Goaltending Changes
The Pats had a shuffle between the pipes when Teagan Sacher announced he would leave the team to pursue academic interests in Winnipeg. The Blue and White claimed 20-year old Mac Engel off waivers from Prince George to fill the void. Engel has three years of WHL experience under his belt with a career record of 52-51-4-10. With a healthy tandem of goalies to play, Spencer Tremblay was reassigned to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in the MJHL.
Four in a Row
After a slow start to the season, the Pats have themselves back on even footing (5-5-0-0) on the strength of a four game winning streak. Over that span, the Pats have scored 15 goals compared to the previous three games in which they scored just 3 goals. The powerplay has been successful 38.9% of the time while the penalty kill has a 82.4% success rate.
Streaks of their Own
Morgan Klimchuk and Chandler Stephenson have been on a roll to start the year. Their nine game point streaks have them tied for second longest in the WHL, and are just two games behind Spokane’s Mitch Holmberg who sets the pace at eleven straight games with a point.
Who to Watch on Medicine Hat
Rookie defenceman Tommy Vannelli joined the Tigers at the beginning of the season after leaving the University of Minnesota. The 2nd Round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2013 has three goals and four assists in seven games this season.
Upcoming Schedule
at Moose Jaw – Saturday, October 19th, 7:00 p.m. – Mosaic Place (CKRM)
vs. Prince Albert – Wednesday, October 23rd, 7:00 p.m. – Weiner Wednesday – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
vs. Edmonton – Friday, October 25th, 7:00 p.m. – Red Friday – Brandt Centre (CKRM/Access 7)
