Oksanen spurs Pats to rout of Rebels

Emil Oksanen is still learning the Canadian game but he sure can Finnish.

The rookie scored his first WHL hat trick on Sunday and also recorded an assist, propelling the Regina Pats to a 6-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels before 5,729 fans at the Brandt Centre. It was the second straight multi-goal game for Oksanen, who notched a pair Friday night in Regina’s 5-4 overtime loss to the host Moose Jaw Warriors. He now has five goals and three assists in five games as a WHLer.

Oksanen wasn’t just good on Sunday, he was also a little lucky. The 19-year-old native of Finland opened the scoring on the power play midway through the first period when his shot from the right circle hit Rebels defenceman Brandon Schuldhaus in the back and surprised goalie Lasse Petersen.

Oksanen returned for more, 5:37 into the second period, as he took a pass from Dawson Davidson at the left hash mark and ripped it past Petersen for a 2-0 lead.

Red Deer got one back on the power play with 2:10 left in the second when Mason McCarty tapped in a centring feed from Brandon Hagel. Oksanen completed his hat trick 4:27 into the third, taking a loose puck off the end boards and banging it into the open side.

That marker opened the floodgates for the Pats. Bryce Platt knocked in a rebound just 1:20 after Oksanen’s third marker, followed by goals from Josh Mahura and Davidson to turn it into a rout.

The main beneficiary was Pats goalie Tyler Brown, who kept the Rebels at bay earlier in the game as they outshot the home team 2017 through 40 minutes. The Pats turned the tables in a big way, outshooting Red Deer 21-2 in the third period and 38-22 overall.

With the win, Regina evened its record to 2-21. The Rebels fell to 3-2-0 while playing their third game in three days. EXTRAS: C Sam Steel had three assists for Regina, giving him a goal and four helpers in two games since returning from the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. Mahura, another Anaheim prospect, added a goal and assist on Sunday against his former team . ... Red Deer went 1-for-6 on the power play. The Pats finished 2-for-4 ... The Pats honoured veteran scout Graham Tuer with a video tribute and pre-game presentation. Tuer, a member of the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame, died Aug. 29 at age 87.