Road Trip Ends in Calgary
Regina, Saskatchewan – The Regina Pats (26-15-2-2) close out a busy road trip with an early game against the Calgary Hitmen (23-17-1-4). The Pats are still looking for their first win against the Hitmen in their final meeting of the season. The Pats are 0-2-0-1 against Calgary this year. Their last meeting saw the Hitmen erase a third period deficit and win 3-2 in the shootout. Patrick D’Amico and Austin Wagner lead the Pats with a goal and an assist each in three games against the Hitmen. Calgary’s Radel Fazleev features six points (2G, 4A) in the season series and had the shootout winner in the teams’ last meeting. The Pats are 1-1-0-1 on their Alberta road trip after last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to Red Deer while the Hitmen have dropped three straight including a 4-1 loss to Victoria yesterday. Listen to tonight’s contest on 620 CKRM with Home Depot Pats Hockey starting at 4:35 p.m. CST
Lead Up: Wild Affair Ends in 4-3 Shootout Loss
The Pats opened the scoring early courtesy of Taylor Cooper, but found themselves on the wrong end of three unanswered Rebels goals from Adam Musil, Colton Bobyk and Presten Kopeck. The Blue and White clawed back with a shorthanded goal from Adam Brooks and tied the game with Cooper’s second of the night. The shootout didn’t see a goal until the 18th and final shooter as Musil won it for the Rebels.
Reaching New Heights
With 6 points over his last four games, Austin Wagner is up to 30 points on the year. Not only does this represent a breakout offensive season for Wagner in the WHL, but in his hockey career. Going back to his second year of bantam in 2011-12, Wagner had 27 points (17G, 10A) in 32 games which led to him being selected by the Pats in the 5th Round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.
Over the Century Mark
Braden Christoffer leads the Pats with 102 penalty minutes representing the second year in a row the Pats captain has passed the century mark. Last season, Christoffer leads the Pats with 10 of the team’s 35 fighting majors on the season. Christoffer has 323 penalty minutes over his career.
Tough Building
The Pats are looking for their first win in Calgary since 2011 when they took a 3-2 win at the Scotiabank Saddledome December 16th. Since then, the Pats have lost five straight games in Calgary.
Streaks
4 – Adam Brooks has points in four straight games with 7 points (3G, 4A)
4 – Austin Wagner has points in four straight games with 6 points (2G, 4A)
2 – Rykr Cole has points in back-to-back games with 2 points (2A)
Milestones
Games Played
100 – Daniel Wapple has made 98 appearances in his WHL career
1 – Jake Leschyshyn played his first WHL game January 9th vs. Edmonton
1 – Adam Berg played his first WHL game January 14th at Medicine Hat
Statistical
100 – Braden Christoffer reached 100 PIMs for the second year in a row January 16th at Edmonton
50 – Daniel Wapple earned his 50th career win January 2nd vs. Moose Jaw
4 – Taylor Cooper set a new single game career high with 4 points January 10th vs. Prince Albert
2 – Taylor Cooper notched his second career hat-trick January 10th vs. Prince Albert
1 – Ryan Krushen earned his first WHL assist/point January 9th vs. Edmonton
Upcoming Schedule
vs. Moose Jaw – Friday, January 23rd, 7:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
at Brandon – Saturday, January 24th, 7:30 p.m. – Westman Place (CKRM)
at Kootenay – Friday, January 30th, 8:00 p.m. CST – Western Financial Place (CKRM)
