For the first time in over four months, meaningful hockey was played in Regina that did not consist of a scrimmage or intra-squad game. The Regina Pats hosted the Winnipeg ICE in the 2021-22 exhibition opener for both clubs.
Five different Pats scored as they beat the ICE 5-4 in a real seesaw battle. The game saw five separate lead changes along the way.
Both clubs dressed similar lineups age-wise with the Pats averaging 17.7 years and the ICE 17.65 years.
The Pats stuck with their line combinations throughout the contest. Connor Bedard centered a line with Cole Dubinsky on his left and Zack Stringer on the right side. Drew Englot centered a line with Sloan Stanick and newcomer Borya Valis. Tanner Howe (LW), Cole Carrier, and Easton Armstrong (RW). The final forward unit was rookie Brayden Barnett with Braxton Whitehead and Colby Wotton.
The defensive pairings for the Pats were Luke Bateman playing with Tom Cadieux. Layton Feist was with Parker Berge and newly signed Carter Herman was paired with Jacob Dewitt.
Nineteen-year-old Spencer Welke got the start for the Pats with Matthew Kieper serving as the backup.
The ICE went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the game and sixteen-year-old Dawson Cowan got the call between the pipes. The ICE did not dress any of their big guns for the contest.
First Period
The ICE opened the scoring as Anson McMaster’s point shot eluded Welke in the Pats goal 4:11 into the first. The Pats had a glorious opportunity just prior to the opening goal when Bedard ripped a shot just wide of the Winnipeg net in which the ICE brought back and picked up the McMaster goal.
The Pats replied just over a minute later when Armstrong went hard to the net, fought off the defender, and deposited the rebound past Cowan to tie the game. Carrier and Feist assisted on the 1-1 goal at 5:18 of the first.
Regina took the lead just over two minutes later as Howe joined in on the action. Dewitt’s point shot was stopped by the ICE tender, but Howe picked up the rebound and put a nice backhand into the net to give the Pats a 2-1 lead at 7:37
After making a nice save (or two) Welke was unable to stop the next attempt as former Pat Cole Muir was able to put the puck past a sprawling Welke to tie the contest at 12:58 of the opening frame.
The back-and-forth first period saw Winnipeg outshoot Regina 14-9.
Second Period
The Pats took the first penalty of the game just 16 seconds into period number two. Winnipeg made them pay as Mike Ladyman’s point shot through a screen beat Welke to give the ICE a one-goal lead once again 1:11 into the second period.
Here's Bedard's shorty!#MarchOn | #JoinTheRegiment pic.twitter.com/Gd6IYP6X0v
— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) September 11, 2021
Regina tied the game again with a nice shorthanded marker. Dubinsky chipped the puck past the ICE player and Bedard picked up the puck and blew past the ICE defenseman. He then fired the puck glove side past Cowan to tie the game a 3-3, 6:12 into the second.
Muir battled hard in front of the Pat net and deposited his second of the game again gave the ICE a one-goal lead. The puck just entered the Pats goal past Welke. The goal at 9:35 of the second gave the ICE a 4-3 lead.
The Pats made a goalie change and Kieper replaced Welke who made 16 saves in 29:35 of action.
Both teams failed to score in the last half of the second period. The shots were 11-11 in the period with the ICE holding a 25-20 advantage after 40 minutes.
Third Period
On a misplayed puck by the ICE goalie, Stringer made no doubt as he fired home a gift to tie the game at 4-4 at 9:29 of the final frame.
With just under four minutes remaining in the game, Dubinsky fired home a beauty to give the Pats a 5-4 lead heading into the final stretch.
The ICE received a late powerplay, but the Pats held their own and picked up the 5-4 victory.
Winnipeg finished with a 40-34 shot advantage in the game (15-14 in the third).
Patterings: Regina’s Howe (1G) was selected as the first star of the game. Dubinsky (1G, 1A) was the game’s second star, and ICE forward Chase Bertholet (2A) was the third star. The Pats went 0-for-0 on the powerplay while killing 3-of-4 penalties. Winnipeg had a penalty-free game. Kieper picked up the win stopping all 20 shots directed his way in 30:25 of action. ICE netminder Cowan played the full contest making 29 saves in the loss.
