SIGNS OF HOPE FOR PATS
Early games cause for optimism
While sitting in Section 203 of the Brandt Centre and shamelessly Hoovering popcorn, it occurred to a rumpled scribe that there is, in fact, a kernel of hope.
Following a 2018-19 season that felt like a lost cause even before the first puck was dropped, the Regina Pats are playing games that have some meaning.
Such was the sentiment on Friday, when the Pats defeated the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors 3-2 in an entertaining contest. After the first period, Regina had as many goals (two) as Moose Jaw did shots.
The following evening at Mosaic Place, the Warriors held on for a 5-3 victory after Regina rallied from a 4-0 deficit by scoring three rapid-fire third-period goals. Moose Jaw settled matters with an empty-netter.
At least on opening weekend, it seemed the Pats’ goal of making the WHL playoffs — not the tallest of orders, considering eight of the 12 Eastern Conference teams will advance to the post-season — is not a preposterous notion.
That much constitutes progress.
For the time being, that will have to suffice.
The Pats are in Year 2 of a reconstruction phase after chasing WHL and CHL titles in the springs of 2017 and 2018.
Year 1 was a writeoff, from a results standpoint.
If anything, the 2018-19 Pats overachieved by posting a 19-451-3 record.
Consider the fact the Swift Current Broncos, who depleted their reservoir of prospects while using trades to fortify a team that won the WHL title in the spring of 2018, went 11-51-4-2 the following season.
Dave Struch and his cohorts on the Pats’ coaching staff somehow extracted 19 victories from a team that, like Swift Current, unavoidably faced a cupboard-isbare scenario.
Regina was 8-17-0-0 when its top two skaters, forwards Jake Leschyshyn and Nick Henry, were dealt to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Nov. 29.
At the time, the Pats had a winning (?) percentage of .320. Sans Leschyshyn and Henry, Regina was .302.
One would have expected a pronounced difference between the pre- and post-trade records, but the Pats were in the low
.300s over both time frames.
Somehow, Struch prevented the Pats from descending into the .200s, or even the .100s, after a blockbuster deal depleted an already limited arsenal.
Of course, that was of little solace to anyone who frequented the Brandt Centre last winter, when there was every reason to pine for Sam Steel, Adam Brooks, Austin Wagner, et al.
As a notable contrast, consider the events of Friday night, when the Pats won a regular-season opener for the first time since 2011.
The only disappointment was the attendance of 4,658 — Regina’s smallest gathering for a home opener since Sept. 26, 2015 (4,494).
Friday’s sub-5,000 turnout was surprising in light of the fact Regina averaged 5,201 customers last season at the 6,484-seat Brandt Centre, even though the popcorn — large with butter, and without conscience — was often the highlight of the game.
Perhaps the Pats’ ability to butter up the fans with an opening night victory will create more of a buzz for the season’s second home date — next Friday’s game against the Prince Albert Raiders.
Some optimism can even be extracted from Saturday’s loss, considering the Pats made matters interesting by scoring three goals in a span of three minutes, 53 seconds.
Also worth noting is the fact Regina outshot Moose Jaw 46-26.
The Pats hit the 46-shot mark only twice last season, during which they were in the 40s in six of 68 games — including just two of the final 48.
That stat should hardly be surprising. After Henry and Leschyshyn were dispatched, the Pats had only one veteran — Austin Pratt — who could score with reliability. He led the team in goals (25) and points (51).
Pratt was virtually on his own for most of 2018-19. There is more depth, talent and experience this season, as was demonstrated on the weekend.
The worst, one suspects, is over.
That is hardly the ultimate compliment, or a surefire marketing tool, but anyone who bravely weathered the somniferous season of 2018-19 will happily savour some small victories.