Frustration for the Pats
More times than not, Regina Pats goaltender Matt Hewitt has stopped just about everything the opposition throws at him.
The only thing he hasn’t been able to stop is his own team’s eight-game losing streak.
“I’m not going to say it’s not frustrating because it is,” offered Hewitt, whose team plays host to the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight — a battle of the basement in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.
“It’s frustrating for our whole team. When things aren’t going well it just seems like they keep going in that direction. That’s when you have to find it within yourself to change it and start going the other way.”
The Pats’ inability to find the back of the net has been the main culprit, scoring just 11 goals during their eightgame skid. Hewitt has started seven of those games and allowed just two goals in six of them.
Clearly, goaltending isn’t the problem.
“We need more from some people to put the puck in the net for us,” said head coach Pat Conacher, referring specifically to his top players. “We have to be more determined. We have to find a way to put the puck in the net.”
Until that happens, there’s not much more Hewitt can do to help his team end the slump — unless, of course, he hopes to start pitching shutouts.
That said, you won’t hear him calling out teammates or crying foul about the lack of offensive support.
“It’s a team game in the end,” said Hewitt. “I can’t be pointing fingers when they don’t score a goal because the same thing can happen to me. I could be letting weak goals in and they’re scoring. It goes both ways.”
Not much is going the Pats’ way right now.
Hewitt believes the team’s fortunes will turn. It’s just a matter of staying focused and maintaining a positive attitude. However, that’s easier said than done when the club is burdened by a long losing streak.
“I’m not going to tell you it’s easy,” continued Hewitt. “That’s why we have the leadership group around. That’s why we’re here, to lead by example. The younger guys probably aren’t used to handling the situation as much (as the older players).
“We have to move forward and stay together as a team. We can’t get too down on each other. We have to stay up and build positive energy around the room.”
Conacher agreed, noting that he too has a responsibility to set the tone in that regard.
“Me kicking the dog in the rear end right now isn’t the right thing to do,” he said. “You can’t beat people (down). You have to make them aware of the mistakes we’re making but you have to reinforce the good things.
“It’s all about attitude. No one is happy with what has happened over the last eight, nine games but, you know what, we’re a better team than that. We’ve done some good things in some games. We haven’t been rewarded but you can’t go backwards. We have to keep going forward. That’s the message.”
The same message applies to his netminders. Hewitt and Teagan Sacher have been a bright spot in a mostly dismal season to this point, but now is not the time for them to let up or lose focus.
“You have to keep encouraging them and stick with it,” added Conacher. “I don’t think anyone is happy that we’re not getting (wins) but it’s your job to stop the puck. You’re doing good things and you have to continue doing that.”
Despite his team’s recent run of tough luck, Conacher still subscribes to the theory that the so-called breaks which seem to be going against the Pats will eventually fall their way — assuming they put in the necessary effort to earn it.
Hewitt is taking that approach to heart.
“If you cheat the game it’s going to cheat you,” he said, repeating the mantra of his head coach.
“I really believe in that too. It’s just staying mentally strong and getting over that hump.”
Unfortunately, with each loss, that hump gets a little larger.
“It’s definitely getting old,” veteran Lane Scheidl said of his team’s recent struggles. “(Frustration sets in) a little bit but it’s a character thing. You have to keep battling. You can’t give up.
“We’re desperate for points now so you have to work a little harder, give a little extra. If you stay the course, some of the bounces will start coming your way.”
The Sindani family moved to Canada from Sudan in search of a better life. Richie, the youngest of four siblings, is taking advantage of that opportunity.
Richie and his brother Emmanuel (19) were born in Regina. His older sisters, Selina (20) and Joyce (22), were born in Sudan and were infants when their parents emmigrated to Canada. Emmanuel is a student at SIAST, while Selina is taking classes at the University of Regina. Joyce is pursuing a music career in Toronto.
“My father always wanted to live (in Canada),” Richie said.
“He wanted a better life, and he knew we would have that here. There are more opportunities for our family here than there are back there.
“It’s a sordid third-world country and life isn’t easy by any means. I think this life here is working out quite well.”
Considered one of the top high school football recruits in the province, the all-star receiver with the Campbell Tartans recently agreed to join the University of Regina Rams football program this fall.
For now, though, Sindani has shifted his focus to basketball. He scored 12 points on Thursday to help the Tartans knock off Brandon’s Neelin Spartans 8461 in the opening game of the Campbell Invitational Tournament.
Connor Gorman topped the Tartans with 22 points. Theo Farough led Neelin with 20 points.
This past football season with the Tartans didn’t go according to plan for Sindani. He suffered a severe ankle sprain in the second game of the year and sat out the next six games.
He returned to the lineup in a semifinal contest where the Tartans had their hopes of a return to the city championship game dashed by the Winston Knoll Wolverines.
“I’M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROGRESS AND BE AN IMPACT PLAYER FOR THAT TEAM. I LOVE THE GAME AND I’M THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SOMEONE HAS GIVEN ME TO KEEP PLAYING IT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.”
RICHIE SINDANI
This being his Grade 12 year, Sindani is hopeful he’ll get one more shot at a championship before he graduates.
“It would be really nice to make up for that loss in football,” Sindani said.
“We were close in football, and I think we’re pretty close with this (basketball) team.
“But we have to work hard to get to where we want to be.”
Sindani stressed that he doesn’t take his athletic talents or the opportunities that come with them for granted.
He is proud of his work ethic and said he will accelerate his workouts as he enters university in the fall.
“Whatever role ( the Rams) have for me, I want them to know that I’m going to be a hard-working player who gives it his all,” he said.
“They have a really talented team, a really good receiving corps, and I’m just going to keep working at my game and try to find a spot on the field at some point.”
The Rams are known for producing some talented receivers. Jason Clermont, Chris Getzlaf, Chris Bauman and Jordan Sisco are former Rams who moved on from the CIS level to the CFL. Listed at 6-foot-4 and blessed with speed — Sindani runs the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds — the 17-year-old hopes to follow in the footsteps of some of the program’s elite.
“We’ll see what the future holds,” Sindani said.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to progress and be an impact player for that team. I love the game and I’m thankful for the opportunity someone has given me to keep playing it after high school.”
The CIT, a senior boys and girls tournament, continues today and runs through Saturday. The boys final is slated for 6 p.m. on Saturday, with the girls final to follow at 8 p.m.