WHL Regina Pats

ICE Freeze Pats with 6-1 Win

April 16, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


Regina, Sask. - The Winnipeg ICE exploded for five first period goals on Friday night, en route to a 6-1 victory over the Regina Pats at the Brandt Centre.

With the Pats coming up short, all fans in attendance went home with a voucher for a free silver ticket to a regular season game next season, as Friday was labelled Guaranteed Win Night.

Six different ICE players scored in the win: Zachary Benson, Mikey Milne, Conor Geekie, Evan Friesen, Connor McLennon and Jakin Smallwood.

"I thought after their power play, they kind of just turned it on and bang bang bang - they were all in the back of our net," Pats assistant coach Brad Herauf said. "I don't like the first couple of goals there but, you know, they're good players. I don't think we were very strong in front of Kelton [Pyne], the last 10 feet [in front of] the net. We didn't help him out very much tonight. So I don't think this game was on him by any means."

Pyne was replaced by Spencer Welke after the fourth ICE goal.

Braxton Whitehead had the lone Pats goal, putting home his ninth of the season after a bouncing puck came his way at the side of the goal following a blocked shot from Maximillian Streule. Whitehead's goal made it 5-1 midway through the second, and the ICE added a goal late in the third period.

The final 40 minutes weren't very eventful, other than Connor Bedard getting stopped on a penalty shot by Daniel Houser in the second period and the Pats getting a couple 5-on-3 opportunities in the third that didn't bear any fruit. The final shots on goal were 23-23.

While the loss hurts the Pats, the good news is the Prince Albert Raiders defeated the Swift Current Broncos, leaving a window of opportunity for Regina with two games still remaining. The Pats remain just two points back of the 8th-place spot in the Eastern Conference, now held by Prince Albert who only have one game left. Calgary is in 10th place at 58 points and also only has one game left.

THE GOALS

1st Period

WPG 1-0 at 4:47 - Zachary Benson (24), assisted by Conor Geekie // Geekie was behind the net and centered the puck to Benson, who quickly one-timed it top-corner.

WPG 2-0 at 5:31 - Mikey Milne (37), assisted by Jakin Smallwood and Cole Muir // Milne doubled the lead on a wrap around, scoring just 44 seconds after Benson.

WPG 3-0 at 8:29 - Conor Geekie (24), assisted by Carson Lambos and Matthew Savoie (PPG) // Geekie ripped it past the glove side from the top of the circle on the power play to make it 3-0.

WPG 4-0 at 10:54 - Evan Friesen (4), assisted by Skyler Bruce and Benjamin Zloty // Zloty threw the puck to the net, where it deflected twice before landing right on the stick of Friesen, who put home the gift.

WPG 5-0 at 11:09 - Connor McClennon (43), assisted by Jack Finley and Owen Pederson // McClennon was allowed to walk right into the slot on an odd-man rush and finished off the post and in.

2nd Period

REG 1-5 at 9:25 - Braxton Whitehead (9), assisted by Cole Dubinsky and Connor Bedard // Bedard spun away from pressure on the near side boards and threw a cross-ice pass for Dubinsky, whose one-timer hit Streule and bounce right to Whitehead in front, who put it home for his 9th of the season.

3rd Period

WPG 6-1 at 16:49 - Jakin Smallwood (25), assisted by Tanner Brown // Brown's point shot was deflected by Smallwood.

FINAL: Pats 1 | ICE 6

STATISTICS

SOG: REG - 23 | WPG - 23 PP: REG - 1/6 | WPG - 1/2 Face-Offs: REG - 18 | WPG - 23

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Regina: Kelton Pyne allowed four goals on nine shots before being pulled. Spencer Welke made 12 saves on 14 shots in relief. Winnipeg: Daniel Houser allowed one goal on 23 shots.

3 STARS

Conor Geekie - WPG: 1G, 1A, 1 SOG Connor McLennon - WPG: 1G, 3 SOG Jakin Smallwood - WPG: 1G, 1A, 4 SOG

UP NEXT

The Pats have only two games remaining on their 2021-22 regular season schedule. They have a rematch with Winnipeg tomorrow, before closing out the season on Sunday at 4 p.m. against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2022


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