Pats Drop Opening Game of Homestand, 5-3
December 30, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release
Regina, Sask. - The Regina Pats began their eight game homestand with a 5-3 loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday in front of a crowd of 4,015 inside the Brandt Centre.
The Wheat Kings got off to a 2-0 lead in the opening two minutes of the first period. Former Pat' Matteo Michels opening the scoring followed Rylen Roersma's marker. The Pats would fight their way back into the game, getting goals from Tanner Howe and Borya Valis late in the opening period to tie the contest at two. Brett Hyland's team leading 19th of the season put Brandon in front (3-2) with under a minute to go in the first period.
The Wheat Kings scored twice in the third to take a 5-2 lead, securing their ninth victory in 10 games. The Pats dropped their fifth straight contest (0-2-2-1) with the loss.
Tanner Howe (1G-1A) and Borya Valis (1G-1A) led the way up front with multi-point games, while Jaxsin Vaughan scored his eighth of the season to bring the Pats within two at 5-3 in the final minute of the third. Madden Mulawka made his first start inside the Brandt Centre and second of the season, making 23 saves.
Brett Hyland led the way up front for Brandon with three points (1G-2A). Roger McQueen (1G-1A) and Rylen Roersma (1G-1A) each had multi-point games, and Ethan Eskit made 24 saves.
THEY SAID IT
"We didn't have the energy that we needed in the third period, and it was a bit of a struggle as we played a lot in our own zone, so it's hard to have the forecheck if you're defending all the time. We had some new guys in our lineup so it kinda changes things a bit. We're trying to teach guys our systems on the fly. It's not an excuse but it does make a difference. Our goalie did a pretty good job but there is probably a couple that he would like to have back. I thought he was a little busy at times but it's not all on him, we had some great opportunities to score." - Regina Pats Assistant Coach Ken Schneider
FINAL SCORE: Wheat Kings 5, Pats 3
Click for the Official WHL Box Score
THE GOALS
First Period
1-0 Wheat Kings at 1:28 - Matteo Michels (8), assisted by Rylen Roersma & Dominik Petr // Roersma streaked into the Pats zone to Mulawka's blocker side and sent a pass to the front of the net where Michels chipped it past the Pats goalie to give the Wheat Kings an early 1-0 lead.
2-0 Wheat Kings at 2:06 - Rylen Roersma (14), assisted by Caleb Hadland & Luke Shipley (PP) // Hadland was able to skate into the left circle where he sent a cross-ice pass to Roersma who fired it home to extend the Wheat Kings lead to 2-0 less than a minute after opening the scoring.
2-1 Pats at 13:21 - Tanner Howe (21), assisted by Borya Valis & Madden Mulawka // The Pats entered the Wheat Kings zone on an odd-man rush and Valis found a streaking Howe who deked out the goaltender and fired a backhand past Eskit to pull the Pats to with one at 2-1.
2-2 Pats at 17:28 - Borya Valis (13), assisted by Tanner Howe & Braxton Whitehead (5-on-3) // The Pats worked the puck around the offensive zone and Howe sent a pass to Valis who ripped a one-timer past Eskit to tie the game up at 2-2.
3-2 Wheat Kings at 19:03 - Brett Hyland (19), assisted by Seth Tansem & Roger McQueen // Hyland got the puck and was able to skate to the high slot and sent a wrister that eluded Mulawka to restore Brandon's one-goal lead at 3-2 late in the first period.
Second Period
No scoring.
Third Period
4-2 Wheat Kings at 3:36 - Roger McQueen (17), assisted by Dominik Petr & Brett Hyland (PP) // The Wheat Kings worked the puck around the Pats zone and Petr found McQueen cross ice where he fired the puck past a scrambling Mulawka to make it 4-2.
5-2 Wheat Kings at 8:12 - Carter Klippenstein (5), assisted by Brett Hyland & Quinn Mantei // Klippenstein's wrister from the left circle beat Mulawka to extend the Wheat Kings lead to 5-2.
5-3 Pats at 19:07 - Jaxsin Vaughan (8), assisted by Tye Spencer & Anthony Wilson (PP) // The Pats had multiple opportunities and Vaughan was able to bury the powerplay goal to make it 5-3.
THE STATISTICS
SOG: Regina - 10-8-9-27 | Brandon - 14-6-8-28
PP: Regina - 2/4 | Brandon - 2/4
Face-offs: Regina - 31 | Brandon - 30
THE GOALTENDING BATTLE
Regina: Madden Mulawka (23 saves / 28 shots)
Brandon: Ethan Eskit (24 saves / 27 shots)
THE 3 STARS
First: Brett Hyland - Wheat Kings (1G-2A)
Second: Borya Valis - Pats (1G-1A)
Third: Matteo Michels - Wheat Kings (1G)
Western Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2023
- Oil Kings Earn Point in Victoria - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Major Penalties Hurt Broncos in Overtime Loss to Broncos - Swift Current Broncos
- Pats Drop Opening Game of Homestand, 5-3 - Regina Pats
- Warriors Battle to Victory in Prince Albert - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Raiders Fall to .500 After 2-1 Loss to Moose Jaw - Prince Albert Raiders
- Five Different Wheat Kings Score In Win Over Regina - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Giants Acquire Local Forward Marinkovic from Hitmen - Vancouver Giants
- New Year's Day Primer - Everett Silvertips
- Preview: Oil Kings at Victoria Royals - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Firkus Joining Canada at World Juniors - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Warriors Add Pick from Regina for Lolacher - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Spokane Hosts Rival Americans in Last Home Game of 2023 - Spokane Chiefs
- Pats Acquire Lolacher from Warriors - Regina Pats
- Game Day Preview: Game 35 vs Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Preview: Cougars Conclude 2023 in Kamloops to Take on Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Rockets Earn 6-4 Victory Over Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
