By Les Lazaruk
REGINA – It’s a time-honoured hockey cliché, but it held true for the Pats Wednesday night. Their best players were their best players as Regina trimmed the visiting Saskatoon Blades 7-3.
Pats’ captain Sam Steel set up five of the seven Pats’ goals, defenceman Josh Mahura opened the game’s scoring and chipped in with three assists while former Bridge City Bunch centre Cam Hebig made sure there’d be no Blades’ comeback, tallying twice in the third period. Their efforts allowed Regina to move six points clear of Saskatoon in fourth place in the WHL’s East Division and within six points of third place Brandon.
“We got out-played physically and mentally,” said head coach Dean Brockman. “Geez, when that happens, it’s a tough go.”
Special teams was a big part of the Pats’ 25th win of the season. They scored on three of their first four power play chances and notched even strength goals within 30 seconds of killing off Blue and Gold man advantages on the way to a 5-1 lead.
Former Blades defenceman Libor Hajek put the Queen City Kids ahead for good with his first goal for Regina to break a 1-1 tie late in the first period. Nick Henry, Jesse Gabrielle and Jared Legien also connected for the Pats. Max Gerlach scored twice after Saskatoon fell behind 5-1. Chase Wouters had the other marker for the 23-23-3 Bridge City Bunch.
“I didn’t feel (the energy) in the dressing room before the game,” explained Brockman. “Even through the first part of the first period, you see on the bench we were just kind of hunched over. We didn’t look very interested in playing. If anything, we just weren’t here.
“I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s my job to get them ready and I’ll take partial blame for that. But, it’s up to each individual to make sure that they’re ready.”
The Blades were out-shot 45-29 as Ryan Kubic got the better of Tyler Brown in a match-up of goaltenders traded for one another at the WHL Trade Deadline two weeks ago. Saskatoon returns to action for back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday against Edmonton and Prince George, respectively.
Pacman Points:
-The victory allowed Regina to end a four-game losing streak, head-to-head, to the Blue and Gold.
-Steel’s second of five assists in the game was his 300th career WHL point. The 19-year-old Team Canada junior gold medallist now has 196 helpers amongst his 303 career points.
-Hebig collected his 200th point with an assist on Mahura’s power play, opening tally. He has nine points, including four goals, in six games with the Pats since being acquired from the Blades.
-Hajek added an assist to his goal, giving the 19-year-old Czech blueliner four points in five games since coming over from the Bridge City Bunch.
-Kubic is 4-1-1 between the pipes for Regina since being picked up from the Blue and Gold.
-Brown has been touched up for seven goals against in both of his starts with the Blades.
-Gabrielle’s goal gives him six in seven games since joining the Pats in a trade with Prince George after the NHL’s Boston Bruins reassigned the 20-year-old Moosomin, Sk., product from the professional ranks.
-Saskatoon captain Evan Fiala was ejected from the game following Regina’s fifth goal at 14:29 of the second period. Fiala finished his check on goal-scorer Legien, taking him heavily into the end boards. When Steel approached the Clavet, Sk., native, Fiala responded with a cross-check high on the Pats star’s chest. Fiala was then engaged in fisticuffs by fellow 20-year-old Matthew Bradley of Regina. Fiala was assessed a cross-checking major penalty, with accompanying game misconduct, plus a fighting major.
-Thanks to 18 minor penalties in the game, the Pats wound up three-for-six on the power play while the Bridge City Bunch were one-for-seven and allowed a short-handed goal by Hebig…the ninth time the Blue and Gold have surrendered a short-handed tally this season.
-Defenceman Mark Rubinchik took the pre-game warmup with the Blades, but ended up sitting out a fourth straight game with a Lower Body injury. Both Rubinchik and right winger Caleb Fantillo, who sat out a 24th consecutive contest with a Lower Body injury, are almost ready to return to action. Left winger Eric Florchuk is away from the Bridge City Bunch as he gets ready to suit up for Team Cherry at the annual NHL-CHL Top Prospect’s Game in Guelph, Ontario. Florchuk was listed at 93rd on the Central Scouting mid-term rankings posted earlier this week. Wouters was given the 103rd rating amongst North American skaters in advance of the 2018 NHL Draft.
-Regina recalled 15-year-old forward Cole Dubinsky for the game. The Pats’ fourth round selection in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft plays CSSHL hockey with the Delta Academy Prep team. Regina was, once again, without forwards Jake Leschyshyn (Upper Body), Emil Oksanen (Upper Body), Scott Mahovlich (Lower Body) and Koby Morrisseau (Personal) along with defenceman Liam Schioler (Lower Body).
-The Pats won 36 of 65 faceoffs for the 60 minutes with Steel winning 15 of 23 trips to the dot. Chase Wouters paced the Blades by capturing possession on 13 of 21 draws.
-Hebig passed team-mate Bradley into third place in the WHL for shots on goal. The 20-year-old led all players with eight shots on goal, giving him 231 for the season…four more than Bradley who four shots. Nick Henry chipped in with six shots on goal for Regina. A trio of Saskatoon players managed four shots on goal each…Gerlach, centre Kirby Dach and former Pats’ defenceman Dawson Davidson.
