Pats call up prospects

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The Regina Pats picked up two extra passengers on Monday.

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The WHL club, in the midst of a tough U.S. Division road trip, called up top prospect Jordan Weal (midget Vancouver North West Giants) and recent list addition Todd Kennedy (BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers).

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Kennedy, a 17-year-old winger, took part in his first practice Monday and could make his WHL debut later this week. Weal, 15, will dress tonight versus the Portland Winter Hawks and may also see action in the Pats' two remaining road games: Wednesday against the Seattle Thunderbirds and Friday versus the Everett Silvertips.

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The dynamic centre has been lighting up the B.C. major midget ranks, leading the league with 39 points, including 13 goals, in just 16 games. He was named the B.C. Hockey player of the month for October.

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"I know he has a whack of points," said Pats head coach Curtis Hunt. "It's a level change (from midget to the WHL) so we'll make sure he's taken care of, get him in and see how he does. It'll be nice to see him in a Pats jersey."

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Weal is regarded as the top prospect in the Pats' system, while Kennedy is more of a project. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Kamloops native had four goals, six assists and 33 penalty minutes in 20 junior A games this season. He spent last season in the junior B ranks.

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"He's up for a look," explained Pats GM Brent Parker. "We'll see where he's at with his development. He's one of those late-developing kids that we got a tip on. If he has advanced like we think he has then there's a good chance he'll stay with us."

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Meanwhile, the Pats have more pressing concerns as they hit the home stretch of their West Coast swing.

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Regina played the first of seven straight away games on Nov. 11, a 2-1 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings. After rebounding with a 3-2 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers, Regina suffered back-to-back losses to the top two teams in the U.S. Division — 4-2 versus the Spokane Chiefs and 4-1 against the Tri-City Americans. Both teams are ranked in the CHL's top 10 (fifth and seventh, respectively).

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The Pats are No. 10 in the CHL, a position they aren't expected to maintain when this week's rankings are released. After two straight losses, they're now tied with the Swift Current Broncos for first place in the East Division at 16-10-0-0.

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"We've played well in the two (losses)," said Parker, whose team has lacked secondary scoring behind the top line of Jordan Eberle, Tim Kraus and Michael MacAngus.

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"We're just a little unlucky that we didn't get a couple more goals the last two nights. We played well enough to win, just didn't score. That's the way it is."

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The Pats are hoping their luck changes against the Winter Hawks (3-19-0-0), who own the worst record in the WHL. That said, the visitors aren't in a position to take anything for granted.

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"We've gotta come with desperation," added Hunt. "This is a big test of character as much as anything. If you go in without the proper mindset, you leave it to chance. It's a critical game for us on this trip."

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Regina's longest road jaunt of the season co-incides with the Canadian Western Agribition, which is being staged in the Brandt Centre. The Pats, who will be away for two weeks, don't play their next home game until Nov. 30 against Medicine Hat.

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