Mahovlich keen to fill any role
Scott Mahovlich is not going to be a victim of mistaken identity.
Although he would love to play a more prominent role with the WHL’S Regina Pats, Mahovlich plans to maintain the same workmanlike approach that made him an unsung hero on last season’s team.
“Wherever they put me, I’m going to be happy,” offered the 19-year-old forward, whose squad opens the regular season Friday against the host Prince Albert Raiders. “That’s the kind of guy I’ve always been. Give me a job and I’m going to do it. I’m a team player. Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities.”
That mindset fits nicely into the plans of head coach Dave Struch, who expects the Pats to forge an identity based upon hard work, determination and selflessness.
Mahovlich has already seen signs of that plan coming to fruition.
“We’re going to be a real physical, hard team to play against,” said the six-foot-two, 190-pounder, who might be Regina’s hardest-hitting player. “We don’t have as much skill as we had last year, obviously. Our game is going to be to bang and hit and get pucks to the net. “That’s right up my alley, for sure.”
After graduating five of their top seven scorers from last season, the biggest question facing the Pats is whether they’ll find enough offence to keep themselves in the playoff hunt.
Mahovlich believes his team will have to score “a lot of greasy goals this year.”
That’s an area he hopes to contribute despite recording just three assists in 30 games last season after he was acquired from the Kamloops Blazers. Mahovlich finally scored his first unofficial goal as a Pat in their first game of this year’s preseason, finishing with two goals and one assist in six exhibition contests.
“I wouldn’t say I’m going to be a goal scorer this year,” he said. “But obviously I’m going to pot a couple, work my butt off, get pucks to the net and get rebounds. In my opinion, if you go to the dirty areas, you get rewarded.”
Although he was an under-theradar pickup last season, Mahovlich’s attitude, hockey IQ and versatility — he can play all three forward positions — made an immediate impression on Regina’s coaches.
Struch believes he can contribute on the penalty kill this season and perhaps even as an occasional net-front presence on the power play.
More importantly, he’s the kind of guy who leads by example regardless of his role.
Mahovlich hopes to separate himself from the pack after being limited mostly to a bottom-six role last season.
Either way, his fundamental approach isn’t going to change.
“I want to do the same things but in a bigger way,” he added. “It would be nice to get a couple pucks in (the net) this year but I have to be the same kind of player — just do my thing out there and be more of a leader.
“All I want to do is win.”
Extras: Pats C Jake Leschyshyn (Vegas Golden Knights) and RW Nick Henry (Colorado Avalanche) have been reassigned by their respective NHL teams and are expected to be in the lineup Friday. The Pats are still awaiting the return of G Max Paddock (San Jose Sharks) while D Cale Fleury remains in camp with the Montreal Canadiens, who have the option of signing him and keeping him in their minor-league system.