GAME 7 FOR PATS, BRONCOS
Regina ties series with 7-2 win
There’s a reason the Regina Pats had Cameron Hebig at the top of their wish list prior to the WHL trade deadline.
Although he had never made a post-season appearance, Regina’s coaching staff viewed him as a bigtime player with big-game potential — just what the doctor ordered for the host team of the 2018 Memorial Cup.
The Pats’ prognosis came to fruition Saturday as Hebig enjoyed a timely three-point night, helping Regina fight off post-season elimination with an emphatic 7-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos.
Hebig was an obvious choice for first-star honours after he assisted on the game’s first goal (by Robbie Holmes) and followed up with back-to-back markers to bust the game wide open after a cautious start.
The 20-year-old forward hopes to make a similar impact when the best-of-seven series concludes Monday night at the Credit Union iPlex in Swift Current.
“Leaders have to lead,” Hebig said Saturday as 6,484 fans exited the sold-out Brandt Centre. “Our leaders are very competitive guys and you always want to be counted on in those pressure situations. Game 7 will be another one and we look forward to that.”
Hebig ’s reference to ‘we’ included captain Sam Steel, another biggame performer who rose to the occasion Saturday. The 19-yearold centre set up Hebig twice and added a late highlight-reel marker of his own that was a mirror image of Hebig ’s first goal.
“I figured I’d try to duplicate it,” Steel said with a laugh. “He stepped up and had a huge game. That’s what we expect from him. He’s going to bring his work ethic every night and he’s an awesome guy to have on your team.”
The combination of Steel and Hebig makes for a dynamic duo — one that the Pats didn’t immediately utilize at the start of the playoffs in hopes of spreading out their offence.
However, it remained a wild card the coaches were prepared to play if the time called for it, which is what happened when Regina was down 2-1 in the series.
Hebig responded with the first goal in Game 4, propelling Regina to a 6-3 victory. He also scored twice in Game 2 — a 2-1 win — and now leads the team with five playoff goals in six games.
“He has been very productive,” said head coach/GM John Paddock. “Him and Sam like playing together. They weren’t real happy when we split them up (late in the season) but I hope they stay together for a long time through a (playoff ) run.”
Saturday’s clutch performance was a reminder of why acquiring Hebig was among the Pats’ top priorities. Paddock became a huge admirer after watching him play “like a man possessed” in games against the Pats early this season.
When he arrived in Regina, the coaches were even more impressed with his dedication.
“Cam is such a focused guy,” said Paddock. “It’s a ‘possessed’ thing again for him right now. It’s not as easy to see (in the playoffs), but I see it and feel it within him.”
The Pats expect the same thing from Steel, who notched his first goal of the series in Game 6. Prior to that, he had been very much a central figure with a team-high eight assists.
“It seemed like the puck just wasn’t going in for me for a bit but I was finding ways to set guys up or do other things,” noted Steel. “It was nice to get one but the win is the most important thing.”
Like Steel, Matt Bradley scored his first goal of the series late in Saturday’s contest. It didn’t mean much in the final analysis but it meant something to Bradley, who had gone 14 straight games without a goal after finishing second on the team this season with 37.
“I’ve been battling the puck a little bit lately,” he said. “A couple of us hadn’t been able to score this series. Now the floodgates are open so it’s the right time, I guess.”
That goes double for Game 7.
“If the best players aren’t the best players,” added Paddock, “you don’t have any chance.”
Leaders have to lead. Our leaders are very competitive guys and you always want to be counted on in those pressure situations.