THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday everybody!

DOWN SIX – The Regina Pats have 6 players gone to NHL training camps this week. Sam Steel (Anaheim Ducks), Adam Brooks (Toronto Maple Leafs), Connor Hobbs (Washington Capitals), Austin Wagner (Los Angeles Kings), Sergey Zborovskiy (New York Rangers) and Filip Ahl (Ottawa Senators) will miss the final week of the pre-season and then it’s anyone’s guess as to when they will start returning. Zborovskiy and Hobbs could be gone the longest because they are signed prospects. With the World Cup of Hockey, guys will likely stay with their NHL clubs a little longer than on a normal year just because all of the best players in the world are competing and won’t be in camp. At any rate, the Pats are going to have to rely on the guys still here for the beginning of the season. And I don’t say that negatively. Forwards Dawson Leedahl, Lane Zablocki, Jake Leschyshyn, Rykr Cole and Nick Henry are still here. Chase Harrison, James Hilsendager, Jared Freadrich and Liam Schioler were all with the team last year. The Pats wrap up the pre-season this weekend in a home and home with the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday and Saturday.

OCHAPOWACE GAME – The Regina Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings will meet in a special Wednesday matinee, pre-season game on the Ochapowace First Nation.  The game takes place this Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at the Chief Denton George Memorial Multiplex.  The puck drops at 1:30 p.m. The teams will play a modified format of two, 20-minute periods of three-on-three hockey. Normal rules and timing will apply.

“This will be a special day for everyone involved,” said Regina Pats Head Coach and GM John Paddock.  “People from the area get the chance to see high calibre, fast pace three-on-three hockey and our players get the chance to share in the First Nations culture.”

Prior to the start of the game, members of the Regina Pats, including James Hilsendager and Chase Harrison will do a Project 1st Goal presentation to students from the Ochapowace area.  Project 1st Goal is a partnership between the WHL and RCMP where current players receive training to give presentations regarding illegal drug use and making healthy life choices.

The day concludes with a feast put on by the community for both teams.

“Ochapowace First Nation is proud to host this event with the Regina Pats,” said Ochapowace Nation Councillor Tim Bear.  “We want to thank the Regina Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings for bringing this game out to our community.  We welcome all hockey fans from our area to attend the game on Wednesday, September 14.”

The Ochapowace First Nation is approximately two hours east of Regina, along the Trans-Canada Highway, north of Whitewood, SK.


ROYALS ACQUIRE REGINA PRODUCT – The Victoria Royals announced that the club has acquired 20-year-old forward Carter Folk from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.A native of Regina, SK, Folk comes to Victoria after recording 31 points (10g-21a) and 77 penalty minutes in 66 games for the Hurricanes last season. Folk has played in 178 career WHL regular season games with Lethbridge (2013-16) and the Seattle Thunderbirds (2013-14) and has registered 61 points (26g-35a) to go along with 289 minutes in penalties.


GIANTS/HURRICANES TRADE – The Vancouver Giants announced on Monday that the hockey club has traded 1997-born defenceman Brennan Menell to the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for 1997-born blue liner Darian Skeoch and a fourth round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Skeoch, who hails from New Liskeard, Ontario, played 59 games for the Hurricanes in 2015/16, amassing 7 points and 106 penalty minutes. The 19-year-old rearguard is set to attend Anaheim Ducks Rookie Camp which runs from September 15-21 in California. Menell was signed by the G-Men prior to the 2014/15 campaign. Over parts of two seasons in Vancouver, the Woodbury, Minnesota native netted nine goals and 65 assists in 126 games played in a Giants uniform.

GIANTS ACQUIRE BABYCH – The Vancouver Giants announced on Friday that the hockey club has acquired 1997-born forward Cal Babych from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Babych, the son of former Vancouver Canuck Dave Babych, played 56 games with the Raiders during the 2015/16 season, scoring five goals and nine assists. The North Vancouver native was originally a fourth round pick of the Calgary Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

COUGARS ADD KHOMENKO – Prince George Cougars General Manager Todd Harkins announced that the team has added 1998-born forward Yan Khomenko (St. Petersburg, RUS) to their roster. Khomenko checks in at 6’1” and 174 pounds. He played 45 games last season with the Everett Silvertips and scored five goals while adding another four assists and 14 penalty minutes. In seven playoff games he recorded two assists. The Silvertips selected him in the second round (115th overall) in the 2015 CHL Import Draft. During the 2014-15 season, Khomenko played with Dynamo Moskva U-17 where he registered 20 goals and 10 assists in 33 games. In order to make room for Khomenko, the Cougars have released Swedish forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby. The Cougars other import roster spot is occupied by fellow 1998-born forward Bartek Bison (Amsterdam, NED)

THUNDER LOSE IN SASKATOON – The Regina Thunder dropped a tight one with their provincial rivals the Saskatoon Hilltops on Saturday night 20-18. With the win Saskatoon takes sole possession of 2nd place in the PFC at 4-1 while the Thunder sit 3rd at 3-2. Quarterback Sawyer Buettner set a CJFL record with 43 completions in the loss and recorded 442 yards passing to go along with 2 touchdowns. He was named PFC offensive player of the week and leads the league with 1380 passing yards through 5 weeks. The Thunder visit the Calgary Colts (4-0) on Saturday in Medicine Hat at 7 p.m.

That’s all I have for today, have a great week!

Phil
@PhilAndrewsCKRM