PRESEASON: BLADES SMOKE PATS 8-3

The Regina Pats kicked off their annual preseason tournament with an 8-3 loss at the hands of the Saskatoon Blades on Friday night at the Brandt Centre.

Regina took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a pretty goal from Sloan Stanick, his first of the preseason, assisted by Austin Pratt and Tyson Feist just 2:49 in. The Blades would tie it late in the period and it was 1-1 after the opening 20. In the second, the Blades scored six times in the span of 15 minutes to break open a 7-1 lead. The Pats got two back in the final two minutes of the period, first Duncan Pierce scored his first and then Ty Kolle picked up a powerplay goal for his first of the preseason and it was 7-3 after two. In the third, Nolan Kneen scored the lone goal for Saskatoon to make it 8-3 and that was the final score.

 The Blades outshot the Pats 42-40, the Regina powerplay was one for four and the penalty kill three for four. Austin Pratt led the offence for Regina with two assists, while Matthew Kieper made 21 saves on 24 shots in 31 minutes of work, Matthew Pesenti played the second half of the game, making 13 saves.

The Pats will continue the pre-season on Saturday night against the Swift Current Broncos at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre.

(Phil Andrews/ReginaPats.com)