Pats embark on eight-game road trip
The Regina Pats’ longest road trip of the season includes a few warning signs.
The club will face some stiff competition during its run of eight consecutive away games, highlighted by a cross-border tour of the U.S. Division.
If the Pats reside in the WHL’s strongest division, the U.S. isn’t far behind with four of five teams boasting plus-.500 records. It’s the biggest test to date for Regina, but captain Sam Steel prefers to view it as an opportunity to take their game to another level.
“We have to go with the attitude of trying to win every game,” Steel said. “There’s some good teams down there but we have to take it period by period. Those trips are sometimes a grind but they can be a lot of fun. If we can string together some wins, I think it could be a big turning point in the season.”
On the flip side, it could also provide further evidence the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup is a long way from a finished product. The latest example came Wednesday night when Regina barely hung on for a 4-3 win over the Calgary Hitmen, who exposed some familiar issues despite owning the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
“There’s lots of issues,” head coach/GM John Paddock said. “We just don’t do it for 60 minutes consistently. We work but don’t have enough attention to detail offensively or defensively.”
The Pats’ inconsistency has been apparent while posting a 128-2 record. Of the team’s 12 wins, seven have come against sub-.500 clubs from the Central Division — the weakest of the league’s four branches.
The Pats can expect to face much tougher competition across the 49th parallel. The trip begins Saturday against the Portland Winterhawks, who own the WHL’s best record (14-4-0).
“Portland plays just as fast as Moose Jaw; it won’t be pretty if we’re going to do some of the things we did (versus Calgary),” noted Paddock, whose team has gone 0-2-1 against the conferenceleading Warriors.
“We’re going to see lots of different games (in the U.S.). You’ll see the speed of Portland. Everett, I’m not sure. They’re playing a quicker game but they’re a little different now than when (defensive-minded coach) Kevin (Constantine) was there. Seattle we know is going to be a heavy game. Tri-City is going to try to blow you right out of the rink and Spokane is a nice combination. They sort of play any way you want.”
Rather than dwell on their opponents, the Pats are focused on sorting out their own game. They’re determined to get back to setting the pace instead of spending too much time on their heels.
“I think we’re going to dictate the games,” defenceman Dawson Davidson said. “There’s no team we can’t beat this year if we come and play our game.”
Now would be a good time to prove it.
With 30 per cent of their schedule already complete, the Pats might also be due for a reprieve from the pressures and distractions of home.
“It can get a little gruelling (on the road) but I think it’s really good for the team to get on trips like this,” Davidson said. “You form really good bonds. I think it’s going to be good for our team chemistry. I’m looking forward to hanging out with the guys and playing some teams we’re not familiar with.”
The trip also presents an opportunity to enjoy some new scenery — although there won’t be much time for sightseeing. The Pats will jam five games into eight days before returning home for a threeday break. After that, they’ll hit the road again for three straight.
“It’s a real long trip,” forward Nick Henry said.
“To see Portland and Spokane and places like that will be neat, but we have to come back with some wins. You want to consistently play good every night but they have a pretty good division out there. It’s going to be a tough trip.”