Pats Drop Game One To Wheat Kings
By Colton Hordichuk
Regina, Saskatchewan – Fans packed the Brandt Centre on Saturday evening as the Regina Pats (0-1-0) played host to the Brandon Wheat Kings (1-0-0) in game one of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals.
The Blue and White came out of the gate with energy, registering almost a shot per minute in the first three minutes. It was the visitors that would strike first, though, when Jayce Hawryluk’s wrist shot from the outside fooled Pats goaltender Dawson MacAuley.
Dryden Hunt had a pair of deflection chances midway through the fame to put the Blue and White on the board, but Jordan Papirny was sharp and made some quick reaction saves. The Pats continued to generate majority of the offence, but the Wheat Kings capitalized when they had the chance. At 8:34, John Quenneville had not one, but two whacks at a loose puck and eventually put the biscuit behind MacAuley. The first penalty of the night came when Boston Leier was given the gate for interference. Peter Quenneville made it 3-0 when he slapped one home on the power play from the top of the circle on MacAuley’s blocker side.
Just when the period seemed like it couldn’t end soon enough for the Pats, Ryan Pilon scored with 3:14 left in the opening stanza. Following the goal, Macauley was pulled from the crease and Tyler Fuhr served as his replacement. The opening frame ended with the home team down, 4-0.
The second period meant a new start for the Pats as they looked to turn things around and fast. Morgan Klimchuk took no time to get the home team on the board with a tally at 3:13 from Hunt and Chandler Stephenson. Kyle Burroughs was called for holding almost nine minutes into the period, but the Wheat Kings’ power play was cut short when Richard Nejezchleb was given the gate for interference. Hunt contributed to the Pats’ comeback at 10:51. Connor Gay and Boston Leier set up Hunt’s goal. After Hunt’s marker, not only did the Pats have life but so did the crowd.
Ryan Pulock silenced the arena, though, when he weaved through a trio of Pats and backhanded one past Fuhr with 3:15 to go in the frame. Exactly a minute later, Gay came back and put the Pats again within two – reigniting the Brandt Centre. At the second intermission, the Blue and White trailed, 5-3.
Pulock rifled the puck out of play about six minutes into the final period to put the Pats on the power play. On the ensuing whistle, MacAuley returned to the crease, but was quickly replaced by Fuhr. Gay had a glorious chance at the side of the net, but barely missed the goal. Right after the Pats’ man-advantage came to an end, Jesse Gabrielle scored the visitors’ sixth goal of the game. The Pats were called for a pair of penalties late in the game and the Wheat Kings failed to cash in, but that didn’t matter as the they ultimately took game one of the series, 6-3.
Three Stars
1. Ryan Pulock – 1G 1A
2. Jesse Gabrielle – 1G 2A
3. Tyler Fuhr – 22SVS
Game Two vs. Brandon – Sunday, March 23rd, 7:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Game Three at Brandon – Wednesday, March 26th, 6:00 p.m. CST – Westman Place (CKRM)
