Goalie pleased to be back in city
Dean Mcnabb thought he’d never again wear Pats crest, until trade from Victoria
Dean Mcnabb’s introduction to his new team felt a lot like a homecoming. The 18-year-old goaltender is back on familiar ground after officially joining the Regina Pats, who acquired his WHL rights Tuesday from the Victoria Royals.
Mcnabb spent one season in Victoria after concluding his midget AAA career with the Regina Pat Canadians, who share a crest with the iconic WHL franchise.
When Mcnabb removed his jersey following the 2016-17 season, he never expected to wear the Pats’ logo again.
“To be honest, I didn’t think so, but I’m very happy I am,” Mcnabb said prior to Thursday’s practice at the Brandt Centre. “I loved my time with the Pat C’s and I love this city. Initially there were a lot of mixed emotions when I heard the news (of the trade). If I would have went to any other place I would have been skeptical but, the fact that I went here, I was very happy.”
Mcnabb spent two memorable seasons with the Pat C’s, who owned the best record in the Saskatchewan midget AAA league each year. They capped it off with a provincial title and a fourthplace finish at the 2017 Telus Cup national championship.
Mcnabb, who shared the crease with Nathan Moore, was named a first-team all-star in 2016-17 after posting the league’s best goalsagainst average (1.64). He went 18-4-0 with a .920 save percentage and five shutouts.
“Having a couple years in the Pat C’s program definitely helps a lot for the transition,” the Davidson native said. “I had good billets that I’m going to stay with again this year so that definitely helps a little bit and also knowing the city. I’m feeling pretty comfortable in Regina. I spend a lot of time here in the summer and I have a lot of buddies in Regina, so I’m pretty pumped.”
The Pats acquired Mcnabb to solidify their No. 2 spot behind Max Paddock, who’s also 18. Rookie Matthew Pesenti served as Regina’s backup for the first two games of the season but the team decided he could use another year of seasoning.
“We hope (Mcnabb) does come in and solidify it but we can’t take anything away from Matt Pesenti,” head coach Dave Struch. said “He was a hard worker. He exemplified the identity we want to create here. But after sitting down with our hockey ops, we needed a little bit more experience. It was important to help Max out and that’s the decision we made.”
Mcnabb — a third-round pick the 2015 bantam draft — served as Victoria’s backup last season, going
Tiger-cats. “They ruined our perfect season,” then-hamilton quarterback Danny Mcmanus said of the Roughriders.
2004: Saskatchewan (9-9) lost all three of its games to the 7-11 Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
2005: The Roughriders (9-9) went 0-2 against the Ottawa Renegades, who were such a smashing success in 2015 that they soon folded.
2006: En route to posting a mandatory 9-9 record, Barrett’s brigade inexplicably lost all three of its games against the Edmonton Eskimos — like the 2004 Bombers, a 7-11 team.
Some opposing receivers were much like a 7-Eleven — open all the time — when the Roughriders of that era had one of those days.
Everything changed in 2007, under general manager Eric Tillman and head coach Kent Austin.
Suddenly, the Roughriders began taking advantage of the free spaces on the CFL’S bingo card. If the Roughriders were playing an inferior team, recordwise, a Saskatchewan win was a mortal lock. Not coincidentally, the Roughriders ascended to the ranks of the league’s elite under Tillman, Austin, et al.
So here is the current edition of the Green and White, flirting with a breakthrough in Year 3 under Jones. Saskatchewan sports the second-best record in the league, thanks to a 5-1 surge, and can secure a home playoff game by enjoying a robust finish.
After a predictable victory over the hapless Alouettes, the real games can resume. 4-10-0-0 with a 4.52 GAA and an .870 save percentage. He didn’t see much action behind veteran Griffen Outhouse, who’s one of the league’s top netminders.
“He was their guy but I got to learn a lot from him,” Mcnabb said. “Hopefully I’ll get a bit more playing time (with the Pats) and we’ll see improvement in my game. It’s a good opportunity — a new start.”
Although Paddock is the clear starter, Mcnabb’s ultimate goal is to earn a shot at the No. 1 job sometime down the road.
“I know it’s a business and teams have to do what they have to do, but I hope to be here long term and I’m going to do my best to do that,” he added. “That’s what every goalie’s mindset should be — they should want to play as much as they can. But the biggest thing is knowing your role and supporting your teammates. I’m going to come here and fight for minutes but I’m also going to support Max and support the team.”