Pats’ centre hoping he won’t be handed lengthy suspension
Despite the best of intentions, Robbie Holmes knows his timing could have been better.
As the clock winds down on his career with the Regina Pats, the 20-year-old centre faces a suspension for his role in a melee at the end of Tuesday’s 7-4 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
“Right after the game I was thinking: ‘Could that be my last one?’ ” Holmes lamented. “If that happens, it’s really unfortunate. It sucks sitting in the stands, especially when there’s just eight games remaining. But there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
As of Thursday afternoon, the WHL had yet to announce any punishment, but the Pats expect to be without Holmes and Carter Chorney for at least Friday’s game in Saskatoon.
Both players engaged in fisticuffs during the incident versus Moose Jaw.
It occurred as the Pats spilled onto the ice to congratulate goaltender Spencer Welke, who earned the victory in his WHL debut. Holmes went to retrieve the puck near Moose Jaw’s bench but, while doing so, Daemon Hunt allegedly tossed it over the glass, resulting in a fight between the two.
“We were all coming on the ice to go see Spencer after the win,” Holmes explained. “We were going to go get the puck but one of their players decided to pick it up and proceeded to throw it in the stands. From there it kind of turned into a disaster.”
Holmes got the worst of it, receiving a two-minute instigator along with five minutes for fighting and two game misconducts. One of them was for “leaving the bench” even though the game had already ended.
“We all leave the bench because of the victory and go to your goalie,” noted head coach Dave Struch. “Because it’s the goalie’s first victory, you go get the puck. In Robbie’s defence, he’s being a good teammate and from there obviously the situation escalates. If there’s no puck thrown over the glass, then nothing probably happens.”
Hindsight being 20-20, Holmes has mixed feelings about his actions.
“I feel like I was kind of doing the right thing but at the same time I wasn’t,” said Holmes, who just completed a two-game suspension for checking an opponent in the head.
“I was sticking up for a teammate but I also kind of let my emotions get the best of me.”
Regardless, the Pats have his back.
“I feel awful for him because of who he has been as a person throughout his years with us,” Struch said of his team’s unofficial MVP.
“He has been a tremendous leader for us this year … on and off the ice. He’s a very lovable, kind-hearted person. But there are different situations in the game of hockey that take place. Someone who plays hard and plays passionate is going to get involved. He just happened to get caught in that situation. You hope it doesn’t end in a big, big suspension.”
One way or another, Holmes’ four-year junior career will come to an end after Regina’s regular-season finale on March 21. He can only hope it occurs on his terms.
“I’ve definitely been thinking about it,” he added.
“I’ve reflected on the last few years. Everything the organization has done for me has been huge as a person and player. It’s definitely sad and emotional (to see it end).”