Pats Take on Reigning WHL Champions
Head-to-Head
The Regina Pats (11-9-0-0) face-off against the 2013 WHL Champion Winterhawks (14-4-1-1) in Portland tonight. This evening’s contest is the one and only time the two teams face off with each other this season. Last year, the Pats slipped by the Winterhawks with a 3-2 overtime victory in their only meeting of the season. Former Pat Lane Scheidl scored the game winning marker and no current Pat registered a point in the contest. Brendan Leipsic and Nic Petan each had an assist on the Winterhawks side of things. Coming into tonight, the Pats are on a three game winning streak with two of those away from the Brandt Centre. Meanwhile the Winterhawks have dropped two in a row after a 3-2 overtime loss to Victoria last night. This evening’s game can be heard on RM2 (Sportscage.ca) starting at 6:35 p.m. CST.
Lead Up: Pats Down Thunderbirds 5-3
Morgan Klimchuk opened the scoring in the first two minutes and added a second in the middle frame to match Alexander Delnov and Branden Troock’s markers for the Thunderbirds for a 2-2 game after two. In the third, Braden Christoffer and Boston Leier scored for the Pats who put up 27 shots in the final frame in a 5-3 victory over Seattle. Adam Henry scored the T-Birds’ third goal while Kyle Burroughs iced the game with his first of the season into an empty net.
Winning Ingredient?
Forward Connor Gay has been in and out of the lineup early in the season due to injuries. With Gay in the lineup, the Pats have been nearly unbeatable with a 9-1-0-0 record. In ten games, the Saskatoon, SK product has seven points (3G, 4A) including a career night in Seattle with three assists.
Red Hot
Morgan Klimchuk didn’t hit the brakes after a hat-trick and four point night in Lethbridge. The Calgary Flames 1st Round pick posted another multi-goal effort against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Again, he did it in multiple situations with an even strength goal and a powerplay marker. Klimchuk leads the Pats with 26 points (12G, 14A) in 20 games.
Getting Into the Goal Column
Two Pats picked up their first goals of the season against the Thunderbirds last night. Braden Christoffer broke through with the Pats’ third goal of the night. The Sherwood Park, AB native didn’t score until the second half of the season in 2012-13, but proceeded to score eleven times after that point. Captain Kyle Burroughs’ marker into an empty net broke his goalless drought. The New York Islanders’ prospect tallied seventeen assists this season before his first goal.
Who to Watch on Portland
The reigning WHL Champs have plenty of players who can make life miserable for defencemen and goaltenders and Nic Petan leads the way. Last year’s WHL co-points leader looks to be off to another impressive season with 37 points (10G, 27A) in his first 20 games. Petan was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2nd Round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Upcoming Schedule
at Everett – Wednesday, November 13th, 9:05 p.m. CST – Comcast Arena (CKRM)
at Tri-City – Friday, November 15th, 9:05 p.m. CST – Toyota Center (CKRM)
at Spokane – Saturday, November 16th, 9:05 CST – Spokane Arena (CKRM)
