In today’s Pats history, we will talk about their first-ever hockey game. A couple of months ago the Regina Pats celebrated their 103rd birthday. The Patricias as they were then known were formed on October 30, 1917.
Today marks the date of the Pats’ first-ever game played on December 21, 1917. The Patricias opened their first season against another local team called the Victorias. The game was played at Regina’s Arena rink.
Here is a 103-year flashback to the game.
The game’s first headline in the Regina Leader read:
“PATS SHOW SPEED IN SECOND PERIOD BEAT VICS, 5 TO 2”
The game
Junior hockey was only a couple of years old in Saskatchewan and it was a new concept to many. Media and fans alike did not know what to expect when it came to the contest.
“The game was a fast one, far more so than anyone expected and the boys surprised everyone by the speed displayed especially in the second period, when they sped up and down the ice like racehorses.” – Regina Leader
The scoring
The Victorias opened the scoring with the first two goals of the game by Frank Crapper and Leonard Marshall. The Patricias Bill Broadfoot scored to make it a one-goal game halfway through the first period. The Victorias took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Pats substitute defenceman M.A. Wingham scored four minutes into the second period to tie the contest a two. Alphonse Paquet, the Victorias goalie was clipped on the chin with a high stick and was forced to get repairs. When he returned, the Pats took advantage as they scored two goals less than ten seconds apart. Fred Harding and Frank Broadfoot were those scorers. Those goals gave the Pats a two-goal lead at 4-2, heading into the third frame.
Duke Dutkowski scored the lone goal in the third period for the Pats, giving them the 5-2 victory.
The standouts
Pats captain Bill Broadfoot played all sixty minutes and was the best player for the Pats on the night.
“Bill Broadfoot was the star man for his club and did more than anyone else to bring victory Patward.”
Both goaltenders played well for their respective clubs. Walter Broadfoot the Pats 15-year-old goaltender for the opener. “He didn’t let anything bother him with the result that he played a swell game.” – Regina Leader. Alphonse Paquet played a “dandy game in goal” for the Victorias.
The lineups
Walter Broadfoot was the Pats’ inaugural goaltender. The starting defensemen were 18-year-old Bill Broadfoot and 16-year-old Millar Hackney. At center ice, the third Broadfoot brother, 17-year-old Frank. Duke Dutkowski a 17-year-old lined up at the left-wing. Bill Molisky a 20-year-old was on the right-wing. It was the early days of hockey so the teams each played with six forwards, the sixth was a rover. 18-year-old Fred Harding filled that role. The Pats had three substitutes for the game, M.A. Wingham, Ernie Cameron, and John Molisky.
The Victorias dressed Alphonse Paquet in goal. Ernest Miller and Jack Arnot were the Vics’ defensemen. Hub Davidson was the center, Bill Baldwin at left-wing, and Frank Crapper at the right-wing position. Leonard Marshall dressed as the teams’ rover. They only had one spare noted and that was Ernest Foster.
Captain Otton and Delahay were the two officials that took care of the game.
On this day:
December 21, 1917 – The @WHLPats, then known as the Patricias played their first ever hockey game defeating the Regina Victorias by a score of 5-2 at the Arena Rink. pic.twitter.com/Rq9OWjkBIU
— Kevin Shaw (@theblueliner) December 21, 2019
Final thoughts
Over the past 103 years the Pats and hockey, in general, has changed a lot. It will continue to change. This last year has really put things into perspective. Hopefully, everything will get back on track and the Pats (and WHL) will get back on the ice.
