Game Day Preview: Pats Host Home Opener Saturday against Prince
September 22, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release
The Regina Pats (0-1-0-0) will kick off their 2018-19 home schedule on Saturday night against the Prince Albert Raiders (1-0-0-0). Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. The Pats dropped their season opener on Friday night in Prince Albert 7-2 and saw their 15 game win streak over the Raiders come to an end. Tonight is the second of six meetings between the Pats and Raiders, Prince Albert leads the season series with a 1-0-0-0 record. Tonight's game can be heard with Bennett Dunlop Ford Pats Hockey starting at 6:35 p.m. on 620 CKRM2 via 620ckrm.com.
Regular Season Comparison Regina Prince Albert
Record 0-1-0-0 1-0-0-0
Goals For/Against 2/7 (-5) 7/2 (+5)
Powerplay 0.00% (0/2) 33.0% (2/6)
Penalty Kill 66.7% (4/6) 100.0% (2/2)
Team Save Percentage 0.816 0.905
Leading Scorer 6 players with 1 pt Carson Miller (3-0-3)
Leading Scorer (Defence) Hyman/Creta (1 pt) Sapego/Hayes/Martin (1 pt)
Scoring by Period (1st-2nd-3rd-OT-SO) 0-0-2-0-0 2-2-3-0-0
The Lead Up: Pats drop season opener in Prince Albert
The Regina Pats opened the 2018-19 season with a 7-2 loss on the road to the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday night. P.A. scored twice in the first and twice in the second to lead 4-0 after 40 minutes of play. In the third, the Pats pushed back starting with a goal from Aaron Hyman, his first, six minutes in. Five minutes later, Duncan Pierce scored his first career WHL goal and the Pats were within two with half a period to play. The Raiders responded 39 seconds later thanks to Carson Miller to regain the three goal lead at 5-2. Prince Albert added two late markers in the final two minutes and took the two points in a 7-2 final. Regina was oh for two on the powerplay, the penalty kill was four for six and Max Paddock made 32 saves in the defeat.
100 Points
Pats forward Jake Leschyshyn hit the 100 point plateau for his WHL career on Friday night with an assist against the Raiders. The 19-year-old signed prospect of the Vegas Golden Knights won a faceoff back to Nick Henry who set up Aaron Hyman in the third period for the Pats first goal of the season. The Saskatoon product has appeared in 190 games in his career, all with the Pats, scoring 45 goals and added 55 assists for his 100 career points.
First WHL Goal
Pats forward Duncan Pierce scored his first career WHL goal in the first game of the 2018-19 season on Friday night in Prince Albert. The 18-year-old played in 17 games in the 2016-17 season and 17 more games in 2017-18 and picked up two assists in those games. He picked up his first goal in his 35th game Friday when Marco Creta set him up all alone in the third period.
Bounce Back
The Regina Pats losing streak on opening night was extended to seven years with the loss in Prince Albert Friday. However, in each of the last three years, the Pats have bounced back with a win in their second game of the season. In 2015-16, Regina won their second game at home to the Moose Jaw Warriors, in 2016-17 it was a road win in Prince Albert and in 2017-18 the Pats won at home to Brandon to pick up their first win of the season on night two.
Upcoming Schedule
Pats Vs Lethbridge - Friday September 28, 7 p.m. - Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats Vs Moose Jaw - Sunday September 30, 4 p.m. - Brandt Centre (CKRM)
Pats @ Swift Current - Friday October 5, 7 p.m. - Credit Union Iplex (CKRM)
Western Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2018
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- Game 2 vs. Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 22 at Kootenay - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Edge Warriors in Season Opener - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Home Opener Saturday against Prince - Regina Pats
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Seattle - Game #1 - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Open with a Loss - Kelowna Rockets
- Tips Topped in Season Opener - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Shoot Past Cougars in Home Opener - Victoria Royals
- Vancouver Giants Earn a 3-1 Home Victory over Everett - Vancouver Giants
- Hofer Shines in Broncos Home Opener, Narrowly Lose 2-1 to Blades - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Win Season Opener 5-2 over Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Raiders End Drought Against Regina In Home Opener - Prince Albert Raiders
- Anders Sparkles for Rebels in Season-Opening Loss to Oil Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- Blades Open Season with 2-1 Win over Defending Champs - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Dropped in Season Opener - Regina Pats
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