Pats Pick Up First Win Over Ice
By Colton Hordichuk – ReginaPats.com
Regina, Saskatchewan – On a cold, snowy night in the Queen City, the Regina Pats (29-22-3-2) took on the Kootenay Ice (31-22-2-2) for the third time this season. Prior to Wednesday evening’s matchup, the Blue and White were 0-2-0-0 against their opponents.
On a delayed penalty to the Ice, Pats forward Connor Gay capped off a series of tape-to-tape passes to put the home team ahead, 1-0. Logan McVeigh and Boston Leier registered assists on the play. Following the television timeout, the visitors allowed Patrick D’Amico to walk right into the slot for a scoring chance. D’Amico’s fanned on his wrist shot, but Braden Christoffer was at the side of the net to bury the loose biscuit.
With Gay in the sin bin, Jagger Dirk shelved one over Daniel Wapples’ glove to cut the Pats’ lead in half at 12:51. D’Amico and the Ice’s Landon Gross engaged in spirited tilt with less than two minutes left in the opening frame. After 20 minutes, the Blue and White led 2-1.
Almost five minutes into the second stanza, Dyson Stevenson crashed the Ice’s net and slid one between Mackenzie Skapski’s pads for his 25th of the season. The Ice responded courtesy of a bad bounce off of Pats defenseman Jesse Zgraggen. Luke Philp was credited with the goal. Both teams traded off penalties, which resulted in 48 seconds of four-on-four hockey. When Colby Williams finished serving his minor, the Blue and White had a five-on-four man-advantage, but were unable to cash in. The Pats were up 3-2 at the second intermission.
Early in the third, Wapple flashed the right pad and robbed Tyler King of a sure goal. Just after the midway point of the period, Christoffer sat for goaltender interference. The Blue and White’s penalty kill came up big as they successfully killed off Christoffer’s minor. With 1:18 left in the game, the visitors called a timeout. Skapski left his crease for an extra attacker, but the Pats held on to defeat the Ice, 3-2.
Three Stars
1. Daniel Wapple – 27 SVS
2. Connor Gay – 1G
3. Luke Philp – 1G 1A
Next Game: at Prince Albert – Friday, February 14th, 7:00 p.m. – Art Hauser Centre (CKRM)
Next Home Game: vs. Swift Current – Saturday, February 15th, 7:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
