Kubic back in net for final stretch
As the Regina Pats begin their final road trip of the season, Ryan Kubic is nearing the end of his road to recovery.
After missing eight games due to injury, the 19-year-old goaltender resumed practising with the Pats before they left Tuesday for a five-game tour of the WHL’s Central Division.
“The last few days I’ve been on the ice and things have been feeling really good,” said Kubic, whose squad is visiting Banff for a teambuilding excursion before the road trip officially commences Saturday against the Calgary Hitmen.
“It’ll be good to get back in there. Going on the road with the boys is always good for bonding. I think the guys will really come together.”
Kubic’s last action was on Feb. 9 — a 4-2 loss to the Kootenay Ice. He didn’t dress the next night due to an apparent case of the flu, but it was later determined he suffered a concussion.
“At first it just kind of started happening,” Kubic said. “The symptoms started to come on so I wasn’t really too sure. I took a few days off and it wasn’t getting any better. After that it just took some rest and some time off and I felt better.”
Kubic’s return is a timely one for the Pats, who have just eight games before the playoffs. Backup Max Paddock held the fort in his absence, posting a 4-2-1 record.
“It’s awesome to know my goalie partner can get in there and get the job done,” Kubic said. “It makes me feel confident that if something happens to me he can go in there and get the job done.”
Paddock has taken his game to another level over the past month, going 6-2-0-1 with a 2.21 goalsagainst average and a .930 save percentage.
That bodes well for the development of Regina’s future starter.
“It’s big,” Paddock said. “As every game goes by in this league, I feel like I get more confidence in the net. Taking over the starter role while Kubic was out, I kind of dipped my toes in the water. (It’s good) to see what it’s going to be like down the road in about a year or so.”
Paddock’s time as the starter included four games against the league-leading Moose Jaw Warriors. The 17-year-old rookie held his own versus the WHL’s highestscoring team, going 2-2-0 with a 3.27 GAA.
“In the first half of the season I was seeing more of the weaker teams,” Paddock said. “If something ever happened down the road (to Kubic) I feel like they can rely on me to be that guy.”
The Pats are looking for a similar boost from Kubic, acquired from the Saskatoon Blades at the Jan. 10 trade deadline. Before the injury, Kubic went 5-4-1 with Regina, compiling a 3.17 GAA and a .913 save percentage.
Head coach/GM John Paddock must determine how to distribute the minutes between the pipes.
“I don’t know how I’m going to approach it but certainly Max came through really well in the games,” he said. “It’s not totally unexpected but (there are no guarantees) until you do it — until you have some pressure of big games in visiting rinks and stuff. Our goaltending in the last half of the season looks like it’s a strong point of the team for sure. We’re confident with either one.”