REGINA — The Regina Pats closed out their 2022 schedule with a 6-1 loss to the Saskatoon Blades.
The Blades outscored their Western Hockey League foe 4-1 in the opening period on Saturday night on their way to victory.
Winners of six of their last 10 games, the Pats had a 17-15-1-1 record. They were sixth in the WHL Eastern Conference after Saturday’s game.
The Pats return to action on Dec. 28 when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings.
International Competition
Some former Pats and Blades as well as Saskatchewan products will be competing on the international ice in the coming months.
The Regina Pats’ Connor Bedard has earned a spot on Team Canada for his second IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Pats teammate Stanislav Svozil will represent Czechia for the third time at the tournament.
The event runs Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Halifax and Moncton. Kevin Korchinski of Saskatoon and Davidson’s Nolan Allan will suit up for Team Canada. They both play for the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The 2023 Winter World University Games will take place Jan. 12-22 in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Team Canada roster includes former Pats goalie Roddy Ross of Meadow Lake who plays for the University of Saskatchewan, ex-Blades defenceman Scott Walford from McGill University, and Craven product Jared Dmytriw, a forward for the University of Saskatchewan.
Last week
On Dec. 14, the Pats fought back from a three-goal first period deficit to win 4-3 in a shootout over the visiting Spokane Chiefs. Alexander Suzdalev and Tanner Howe both scored for Regina in the shootout. Both of the Chiefs shooters were unable to get the puck past Drew Sim.
The Spokane team showed no signs of travel weariness as Saige Weinstein, Chase Bertholet and Cade Hayes, on a power play, all scored to put the Chiefs up 3-0 in the first period. The Pats got two goals back in the second session with Suzdalev and Howe scoring. Zane Rowan’s first of the season knotted the contest at 3-3 in the third. Sim finished with 26 saves. Cooper Michaluk made 26 as well.
The Pats fell 6-2 in Moose Jaw on Friday night. The Warriors led 2-1 and 4-2 at the intermissions. Suzdalev scored both of Regina’s goals. Harper Lolacher had two goals for Moose Jaw. Also scoring for the Warriors were Ethan Hughes, Jagger Firkus, Eric Alarie, and Ryder Korczak. Sim stopped 35 shots. For Moose Jaw, Connor Ungar made 25 saves.
