Rare Friday night off for Pats
Tonight’s WHL schedule calls for the Regina Pats to face off against, uh, nobody. This is highly irregular. The Pats are dealing with a rare Friday off — only their third since the regular season began in late September.
“It’s one of those nights where you stop and think, ‘What do normal people do on Friday and Saturday nights?’ ’’ Pats assistant coach Josh Dixon said with a chuckle before Thursday’s practice at the Brandt Centre.
Also consider that the Pats are coming off an atypical Tuesday game — a 4-1 loss to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. That was the first of only two Tuesday home games this season, the second being a Feb. 25 date with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Regina has already played both of its Tuesday road games.
The Pats are to return to action Saturday against the visiting Saskatoon Blades. After that, the Pats are idle until Wednesday’s home game against the Kootenay Ice. Both contests are slated for 7 p.m.
In other words, Saturday’s matchup with Saskatoon is Regina’s only game in eight days.
“In some ways, it’s very good, because we had the game Tuesday night and obviously there’s things we need to improve upon f rom that game,’’ Dixon said.
“It gives us a little time here, with three days now of practice (between the Medicine Hat and Saskatoon games), to watch video and break down special teams.’’
On Thursday, the Pats concentrated on faceoffs, following up on an extended Wednesday practice in which the team concentrated on defensive-zone coverage and working hard away from the puck.
“It’s nice this time of year to be able to have this much time to teach and to get back to some of those basics that you kind of forget about when you’re playing four games in six nights,’’ Dixon said.
Oddly enough, the Pats did not play on the first Friday of the regular season (Sept. 20). They had six consecutive Friday games before a respite on Nov. 8, during the team’s swing through the U.S. Division.
Regina then played on 11 consecutive Fridays, excluding the Christmas break, but that streak is to end tonight. The Pats will then play on each of the six remaining Fridays of the regular season.
“It’s definitely going to be odd (not playing tonight),’’ said defenceman Kyle Burroughs, who is the Pats’ captain.
“The Fridays that we haven’t played on, it has been a little weird. We’re playing Saturday night, so we’ll be thinking about that on Friday night.’’
So, what will the Pats’ players be doing during a rare Friday night off ?
“We would usually go to a movie or do something involved with the team,’’ Burroughs said. “I hate to say it, but we usually watch the league and see if there’s a game on. It usually involves hockey or getting together with the team.’’
Many of the players will undoubtedly pay attention to tonight’s showdown between the Swift Current Broncos and the host Brandon Wheat Kings.
Brandon (27-20-5-1) and Swift Current (26-20-2-6) are tied for first place in the East Division, with 60 points apiece. Regina (27-22-3-2) is one point out of top spot.
Like Burroughs, Dixon has pondered the possibility of going to a movie. However, the Pats’ assistant coach will likely keep an eye on the result of the Brandon/ Swift Current contest while also thinking ahead to Saturday’s encounter with Saskatoon.
“Because we play the next night, we’re always breaking down video and we’ll watch Saskatoon’s last few games and watch our last game against them and strategize,’’ Dixon said.
“As a coach, your mind never shuts off. You never quite have that luxury of being able to step away from it until the season’s completely over.
“It’s difficult, even with a night off on a Friday, to separate yourself from knowing the fact that it’s a must-win game for us on Saturday and we have to play our best.’’