WHL Regina Pats

Berge Records First Career Hat-Trick in 5-4 Loss

December 9, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina, Sask. - The Regina Pats had their two game winning-streak come to an end on Saturday after a 5-4 loss to the Kelowna Rockets inside the Brandt Centre.

Parker Berge tallied his first career hat-trick and Borya Valis picked up two points (1G-1A) in the Pats final home game before the Christmas break. The Pats were tied after one and trailed 3-2 after two before the Rockets scored twice in the opening four minutes of the final frame to take a 5-2 lead. Late in the third period, Berge would score twice more to bring the Pats within one.

Tij Iginla and Hiroki Gojsic scored twice for the Rockets while Gabriel Szturc picked up a pair of points (1G-1A). The Rockets have now won four of their last five games as they began the first game of their five game Eastern Division road trip tonight.

THEY SAID IT

"It was a tough loss. We were really proud of our guys and we thought we played really well and really hard. We were totally committed. The way we got buy in from everyone was great. We didn't have a great start to the game but in the second period we were all over them and we had the puck the most of the time. Unfortunately, its the number of pucks that go in the back of the net, not the number of chances." - Regina Pats Assistant Coach Ken Schneider

FINAL SCORE: Rockets 5, Pats 4

THE GOALS

First Period

1-0 Rockets at 1:00 - Gabriel Szturtc (13), assisted by Andrew Cristall // The Rockets got the puck towards the Pats net and Szturc was able to chip the puck over Huet to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead early in the opening frame.

1-1 Pats at 19:39 - Parker Berge (8), assisted by Zane Rowan (SH) // The Pats gained an advantage and broke in on a three-on-one, Rowan fed a pass to a streaking Berge who deflected the puck past Kykkanen to tie the game up at 1-1 late in the first frame.

Second Period

2-1 Rockets at 1:34 - Hiroki Gojsic (5), assisted by Ethan Neutens & Marcus Pacheco // A turnover by the Pats led to a scoring opportunity and Gojsic and he sent a shot past Huet's blocker to give the Rockets their second one-goal lead of the game at 2-1.

3-1 Rockets at 12:43 - Tij Iginla (21), assisted by Caden Price & Gabriel Szturc // Iginla's shot from the deep at the left circle hit Huet and somehow eluded the Pats netminder to make it 3-1.

3-2 Pats at 14:35 - Borya Valis (9), assisted by Zackary Shantz // Valis ripped a slapshot from the right circle that somehow squeaked through Kykkanen and in that pulled the Pats to within one at 3-2.

Third Period

4-2 Rockets at 2:58 - Hiroki Gogsic (6), assisted by Dylan Wightman // Wightman's shot is stopped by Huet, but Gojsic chipped the puck past the Pats netminder to give the Rockets a 4-2 lead.

5-2 Rockets at 3:21 - Tij Iginla (22), assisted by Caden Price & Kayden Sadhra-Kang // Price's shot from the right circle is tipped past Huet by Iginla to extend the Rockets lead to 5-2.

5-3 Pats at 8:27 - Parker Berge (9), assisted by Tye Spencer & Borya Valis (PP) // Berge's blast from the point eluded Kykkanen to pull the Pats to within two at 5-3.

5-4 Pats at 19:45 - Parker Berge (10), assisted by Braxton Whitehead & Sam Oremba // With Huet on the bench, Berge's long shot beat Kykkanen to pull the Pats to within one at 5-4.

THE STATISTICS

SOG: Regina - 6-19-7-32 | Kelowna - 9-6-8-23

PP: Regina - 1/4 | Kelowna - 0/5

Face-offs: Regina - 36 | Kelowna - 20

THE GOALTENDING BATTLE

Regina: Ewan Huet ( 18 saves / 23 shots)

Kelowna: Jari Kykkanen ( 28 saves / 32 shots)

THE 3 STARS

First: Parker Berge - Pats (3G)

Second: TIj Iginla - Rockets (2G)

Third: Gabriel Szturc - Rockets (1G-1A)

JUST NOTES

Parker Berge scored his first career hat-trick of the season and now has points in three straight games. He also has 14 points (6G-8A) in his last 12 contests.

Zane Rowan is riding a three-game point streak where he has four assists over that span.

Sam Oremba picked up an assist and now had six points (2G-4A) in his last five games.

Zackary Shantz has points in three of his last four games (3A).

Borya Valis is on a five-game point streak (3G-7A).

Tye Spencer (2G-1A) has points in three straight games.

Braxton Whitehead has points (2A) in his two games since returning from his injury.

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2023


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