After a 366 day layoff, the Regina Pats opened the 2020-21 season on March 12, 2021, in the Subway WHL Hub.
Here is how the first week of the 2020-21 season went for the Pats.
Game 1
The Pats opened up their season against the Prince Albert Raiders. It was the first game for Connor Bedard in a Pats uniform, it was also the first game back in the Brandt Centre for ex-Pat Max Paddock. The Raiders got out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period, Bedard scored his first two goals back-to-back to pull the Pats to within one.
The Raiders scored two early in the third period before Logan Nijhoff stopped the bleeding, making the score 5-3. In the end, the Raiders were just too much and scored an empty netter to make the final 6-3.
Rod Pedersen wrote about the game here.
Game 2
The Pats’ next opponent was the Saskatoon Blades. Mistakes proved costly for the Pats as they went down in defeat 6-3. The Blades scored early to go up 1-0. Carson Denomie scored to tie it with a 4-on-3 powerplay goal. Miscues cost the Pats the next two goals and the Blades headed into the intermission up 3-1.
Denomie added his second in the middle 20-minutes and Bedard scored midway through the third to tie the game at 3-3.
The Blades would score the next three markers in the 6-3 win. The original game story can be found here.
Game 3
Up next for the Pats were the Moose Jaw Warriors. Tom Cadieux scored early and Denomie scored a pair to give the Pats a 3-0 lead in the first period. Moose Jaw’s Brayden Yager scored his first goal to get on the board before Cole Dubinsky restored the three-goal Pats lead at 4-1.
The Pats ran into penalty trouble and started the second period on a 5-on-3 penalty kill. Moose Jaw’s Tate Popple scored early in the period to get the Warriors to within a pair. Moose Jaw then pulled to within a goal before the second period ended.
The Warriors would tie the score just past the minute mark in the third period. There would be no more scoring in regulation. Moose Jaw captain Daemon Hunt would complete the comeback just 1:43 into the overtime.
The full story with quotes can be found here.
Game 4
In their fourth game of the week, the Pats played the Swift Current Broncos in a battle of last-place teams that did not feel like one. The hard-working Broncos pushed the Pats hard from the start of the game.
The Broncos scored first on a lucky bounce that eluded Matthew Kieper after the puck caromed off of a Pats defenseman. Denomie would score the next two goals of the contest to give the Pats a 2-1 lead after the first period.
The Parts would strike early in the second when Bedard would complete a play that was initiated by Carter Massier when he stripped the puck from a Bronco defenseman. The 3-1 lead would stand until late in the third period when the Broncos would capitalize on their seventh powerplay to make it a 3-2 game. The Pats would hold on and pick up the win. Kieper picked up the win. The full story is here.
The Bedard show
The exceptional player has been as advertised. The 15-year-old phenom has exceeded expectations so far in his four-game Regina Pats career. Bedard has collected eight points (4G, 4A) and a team-leading 19 shots on goal. He has also scored the lone game-winner for the Pats. He plays a lot of minutes and gets every opportunity to shine and with that amazing shot, more goals will definitely come his way.
Denomie’s hot start
A quick start is not something new for Denomie. Last season when he was with the Warriors, he had seven points (3G, 4A) in his first four games. This season with an expanded role, the Regina product also has seven points through his first four games. This time he around has scored six goals. Part of the Pats’ dynamic duo along with Bedard they have combined to score 10 of the 13 Pats goals.
The Pats have a goal-Kieper
In just his second WHL start, Kieper played with the poise of a much older veteran goaltender. The 2004-born goaltender faced a barrage of Broncos shots and he made the most of the situation making 33 saves for his first win.
Up next for the Pats
The Pats play the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight (March 20) at the Brandt Centre.
