Pats Tag Back Wheat Kings on Home Ice
By Colton Hordichuk – ReginaPats.com
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (18-15-2-2) were thumped 8-0 by the Brandon Wheat Kings (19-14-3-0) in their first home game after the Christmas break. Saturday evening, the Blue and White sought redemption as they welcomed their Manitoba rivals to the Brandt Centre for the backend of a home-and-home series.
The Wheat Kings had the Pats on their heels throughout the first five minutes of the game, but the home team opened the scoring courtesy of Connor Gay. His eighth of the season was set up by Boston Leier at 5:06. Prior to the television timeout, Pats forward Braden Christoffer was called for roughing, which gave the visitors their first man-advantage of the contest. The Blue and White’s penalty kill pulled through and held the Wheat Kings to only one shot.
Pats captain Kyle Burroughs had to sit two minutes for boarding with 2:38 left in the opening frame. The Blue and White’s penalty kill once again prevailed, and they held onto their 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Pats received their first powerplay opportunity of the game just 17 seconds into the second period but nothing came from it. Off an ensuing faceoff, Tim McGauley snuck one behind Pats goaltender Dawson MacAuley to tie up the game. Chandler Stephenson responded with a great shot at 5:00 to put the Blue and White ahead. Stephenson’s go-ahead tally was set up by Christoffer and Gay.
Both teams quickly traded goals when McGauley got his second of the game at 10:15, and the Pats’ Geordie Maguire cashed in 31 seconds later.
Just as a Wheat Kings’ penalty expired, Adam Brooks increased the Pats’ lead to two goals. Carter Hanson figured a two goal lead wasn’t enough and made it three at 16:50 of the second. As the period wound down, the Wheat Kings were visibly frustrated and couldn’t stay out of the sin bin. Dmitry Sinitsyn made them pay with his third of the season from Stevenson and Stephenson.
The Pats explosive second period gave them a four goal lead after 40 minutes.
Under one minute into the final stanza, the Blue and White went shorthanded when Maguire was assessed a tripping minor. John Quenneville made good on the powerplay opportunity and cut the Pats’ lead down to three goals.
The rough stuff picked up when the Wheat Kings’ Richard Nejezchleb delivered a pair of questionable hits. Nejezchleb was ejected from the game for a charging major and a game misconduct. Leier scored with 3:40 to go on the Pats’ five minute powerplay. MacAuley picked up a rare assist. Wheat Kings forward Ryley Lindgren tallied a shorthanded goal with 7:56 to go in the hockey game. Stephenson responded with another powerplay goal for the Pats, and that was it for the scoring as the Pats cruised to an 8-4 victory over the Wheat Kings.
Three Stars
1. Boston Leier – 1G 3A
2. Connor Gay – 1G 2A
3. Carter Hanson – 1G
Next Game: vs. Prince Albert – Monday, December 30th – 7:00 p.m. (CKRM)
Next Home Game: vs. Prince Albert – Monday, December 30th – 7:00 p.m. (CKRM)
