Home team, Bulldogs set for high stakes rematch
Hamilton coach predicts ‘really good game’ against Pats in tournament semifinal
The Hamilton Bulldogs seem quite eager to re-introduce themselves to the Regina Pats.
After losing 3-2 to Regina in the opening game of the 2018 Memorial Cup, the OHL champions made it abundantly clear that the team wearing yellow and black “wasn’t us.”
The Bulldogs have also made it clear that they intend to show their true colours in Friday’s rematch (8 p.m., Brandt Centre) — a game that will determine who meets the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the championship final on Sunday.
“I don’t think we showed them what we’ve got in our first game and we’re excited to get a little bit of redemption against them,” said Hamilton captain Justin Lemcke.
“I think we’re on the rise right now. We got better as the tournament went on. I think you can expect to see a better Hamilton Bulldogs team.”
The host Pats could easily make a similar claim since they were playing their first game in 46 days when the teams met on May 18.
Despite some obvious rust, the Pats came back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 before Nick Henry finished off the comeback with 33 seconds left in regulation.
Asked about that result on Thursday, Lemcke said it wasn’t just a sub-par showing by the Bulldogs, it was the worst of their three games in the tournament “by far.”
“I don’t think we played that bad since our first (OHL playoff ) series against Ottawa,” explained the veteran defenceman.
“We were slow. I don’t know if it was from being off the plane. There’s really no excuse. We just weren’t very good.
“We took four or five penalties in the first period. We have to stay out of the box because they have a good power play.
“We’re going to expect a better Regina team than we faced in the first game and we’re going to have to be a lot better as well.”
The Pats and Bulldogs both finished round-robin play with 2-1 records. After the tournament opener, Hamilton bounced back with a 2-1 win over the WHLchampion Swift Current Broncos, who’ve since been eliminated due to an 0-3 record.
That contest could have easily gotten away from Swift Current if not for goalie Stuart Skinner, who made 54 saves.
Hamilton wasn’t as dominant 24 hours later but still managed to keep rolling with a 3-2 decision over the Titan.
“They’re a really good team,” Pats head coach/GM John Paddock said of the Bulldogs.
“They say their game wasn’t very good (in the opener). I don’t think ours was at the peak either after being off for 45 days, but we know they’re a good team.”
Paddock believes the Pats are on the upswing despite an 8-6 loss to Acadie-Bathurst in their second game of the tournament.
Regina came back from a 7-2 deficit to make it a one-goal game but couldn’t finish the job.
Three days later, Paddock was generally pleased with the effort in a 6-5 decision over Swift Current — aside from the fact they almost blew a late 5-2 lead.
Regardless, the veteran coach thinks Regina is getting into a better rhythm and feeling more comfortable with the puck all the time.
“I think we’re where we want to be,” he said.
“We just have to continue it.” That goes double for Bulldogs head coach John Gruden, although he was quick to point out that Regina isn’t a team to be taken lightly.
“They play with a lot of emotion, block a lot of shots, they were physical,” he said of the Pats.
“I think now their execution is better too. They’re a good hockey team. They’re in their home rink. It’s going to be a really good game.
“I’ve always said, ‘When our team plays the right way — I don’t want to take away from any other team but — we’re going to give ourselves a really good chance to win a hockey game.’ ”
NOTE: The Swift Current Broncos have called a media conference for Friday morning “to announce the details of personnel changes” with the club. It’s expected that head coach and director of hockey operations Manny Viveiros will step down to accept an NHL assistantcoaching position.
We got better as the tournament went on. I think you can expect to see a better Hamilton Bulldogs team.