PREVIEW: Pats, Broncos collide needing a win
REGINA – If desperate hockey leads to results, something has to give Wednesday night when the WHL East Division’s lone winless teams meet at the Brandt Centre.
The Regina Pats and Swift Current Broncos enter the game (8 p.m. CST) looking to score their first victory of the season, with the Regiment coming off a disappointing 5-4 overtime loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Broncos enter the game having lost to Saskatoon and Winnipeg respectively.
Where to LISTEN/WATCH
- Radio: 620 CKRM & 620ckrm.com
- TV: AccessNow TV
- Stream: WHL Live
CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF GAME NOTES
For the Pats, their opening three games have provided more than glimpses of a team on the right path. But victories have eluded the unofficial hosts of the Subway WHL Hub in the Queen City, as Regina failed to protect a pair of three-goal leads Tuesday night against Moose Jaw.
Your game day lineup from @MosaicCompany
Matthew Kieper makes his first start in the #SubwayWHLHub
Puck drop 8 p.m. CST vs. @SCBroncos
#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/JtzAsRRqUq— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 17, 2021
Exceptional rookie Connor Bedard and Carson Denomie enter the night riding three-game point streaks to open the season. Bedard has a trio of goals and assists to lead the team with six points, while Denomie tops the Pats’ goal list with four in the early stages of Regina’s 24-game regular season schedule.
The pair have been complimented offensively by the trio of Logan Nijhoff, Ryker Evans, and Cole Dubinsky. All three players enter the fourth game of the season with three points to their name.
Wednesday night’s St. Patrick’s Day affair marks the first time this season the Pats will have played back-to-back nights. Regina will have two days off game action following Wednesday night’s game against Swift Current, with the Pats next contest coming Saturday against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
.@Payworks By The Numbers
Pats went 3-2-0-1 vs. @SCBroncos last season, outscoring the Broncos 26-18.#JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/Xrc1FrhXji
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) March 17, 2021
SPECIAL teams report
- REGINA:
- PP – 4/14, 28.6% (4th WHL)
- PK – 7/10, 70% (19th WHL)
- SWIFT CURRENT:
- PP – 0/9, 0% (11th WHL)
- PK – 5/7, 71.4% (17th WHL)
By the NUMBERS
- Regina is 3-6-0-1 in their previous 10 matchups with the Broncos and went 3-2-0-1 in 2019-20
- The Pats’ 26 goals for last season vs. Swift Current was the most for the Pats against any opponent in 2019-20.
- Connor Bedard’s point-streak to start his WHL career is now 3 games after he registered 2 assists Tuesday night.
- Bedard now has 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points
- Regina’s 43 shots marked the second consecutive game against Moose Jaw with 40-plus shots after accomplishing the feat March 7, 2020
- Carson Denomie’s 5-point start to the season equals his career best over the first 3 games of a season. He posted 3 goals and 2 assists last season in his first three games. It was the start of a six-game point streak to open 2019-20 (4G-6A-10PTS)
