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WHL Regina Pats

2023 Pats Spring Camp Recap

June 2, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina, Sask. - The Regina Pats held their 2023 Spring Development Camp last weekend, inviting 23 prospects from across Western Canada and the Western United States.

The camp invites consisted of a mix of 2008, 2007, and 2006-born prospects. The coaching and management staff held three on-ice sessions, which included shooting, skills and skating drills as well as shootouts, three-on-three and four-on-four scrimmages with two groups.

"It was really exciting to be honest," Regina Pats Director of Scouting Dale McMullin said. "Some things do get exposed, but that's not a bad thing. Good or bad, it gives the player different things to work on. With many young players it's not where they're at right now in their development, it's where we can get them with our coaching staff and management in a couple years."

In Friday's scrimmages, Kohen Volk and Maddox Malmquist scored for Team Blue, while Corban Almen and Wyatt Stinton tallied goals for Team White, with this game ending in a 2-2 tie.

On Saturday, Team Blue beat Team White 4-2 with Zach Lansard scoring twice, plus Malmquist and Kelson Podworny adding goals of their own. Cameron Kuzma and Stephen Grumley scored Team White's two goals.

On Sunday, Team Blue took down Team White 2-0 with goals from Dylan Lebret and Blake Kiley-Ram.

The Pats were able to ink three prospects following the completion of their final on-ice session on May 28, signing 2007-born defenceman Samuel Laplante, as well as 2007-born forwards Cohen Klassen and Zach Lansard. The Pats have now locked up three players from the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, including Cameron Kuzma, who the Pats signed prior to Spring Camp.

"From a scouting perspective, it looks pretty good, but I guess we'll know in a couple years," McMullin added. "It seems like we have some young prospects in that 08 group that really want to be players and I think they absorbed the practice plans really well. As things changed, it seems like they have pretty good hockey minds. I just think it looks like a good draft class right now."

"We think [Klassen] is a potential top-9 forward with the ability to be a top-6 forward in time," McMullin said. "He's got a pretty good skill level, a pretty good understanding of the game and his compete level is real good."

"Give credit to Sam. I think he's done his part since we drafted him," McMullin said. "He's a young guy who's always in the gym trying to get stronger and judging by this spring camp, he has in the last year. He's continued to work on his agility and mobility. We really like his upside."

"[Lansard's] one of those guys where the puck just seems to follow [him]," McMullin said. "For whatever reason, some players are like that and Zach is one of those players. He's got great offensive instincts, offensive ability and he strides well. I truly believe in time he will be a top-6 player for us."

The Pats' U.S. prospects were also impressive, as Dylan Lebret and Stephen Grumley attended their second straight Spring Development Camp, while Brendan Dunphy and Blake Kiley-Ram took part in their first Pats Spring Camp. Out of the four American players, McMullin said Lebret stood out the most.

"It's not surprising, but I really think Dylan Lebret has taken some big strides," McMullin explained. "Stevie Grumley also looked good. He's a smaller defenceman but his feet and mind go together so he has a chance to play at our level, too. If you include those kids into the overall picture, it looks pretty promising."

The Pats have continued to develop an impressive prospect group over the last three drafts. Their top four picks from the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft and their top six selections from the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft have all signed with the Pats, making for a bright future. McMullin also added that top prospect Cole Temple made a huge improvement over the last year.

"Right now looking at the depth chart, there's some legit players," McMullin added. "To see the strides that Cole Temple has taken over the last year was really exciting and hopefully he can continue to do his part. The improvement he's made over the last year his attributed to the work he's put in."

Regina Pats GM and Head Coach John Paddock added it's incredibly beneficial for the Pats to hold these in-person development camps.

"[Spring Camp is] giving them a chance to see what it is like in Regina and how we do things," he said. "For us it's the same thing. It's an opportunity for us to see what their makeups are. We have reports on them from the last year and in some cases a little bit longer, but its sort of a feeling out process that we find is really beneficial. This was in place when I came here. With me doing both the coaching and the manager job, it was often the first look at these guys. Some teams can't do it because of the expense and that's something we can do."

The Pats also did a tour of the dressing room and the Brandt Centre facility, as well as orientation and education breakdowns with the Pats education advisors.

"It's a recruiting tool," Paddock explained. "They see the stands, they see the possibility of an intimate rink when it's full. It's important in that way."

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