PATS 3 WARRIORS 2 OT

Keith Hershmiller Photography

REGINA — Sam Steel scored on the only shot of overtime – at the 1:40 mark – to lift the Regina Pats to a 3-2 victory over the rival Moose Jaw Warriors Saturday night in the club’s 2015 home-opener.

Before a crowd of 4944, the game was scoreless after the opening period.  Former Pat and newly-acquired Warrior Dryden Hunt gave Moose Jaw a 1-0 advantage midway through the second period and the lead held up into the third.

Regina’s Sergei Zborovskiy tied the game in the third before Hunt restored Moose Jaw’s one goal lead later in the frame.  Pats newcomer Aaron Macklin tied the game at 2-2 at the 8:41 mark and on they went to overtime.

That’s when Steel scored his first of the season – and his first career OT-winner –  to give the Pats the win and a split of the season-opening home-and-home series.

The Pats outshot the Tribe 46-31 while going 0/4 on the powerplay and 6/6 killing penalties.  Daniel Wapple collected the win in the Regina net making 29 saves while Moose Jaw’s Zach Sawchenko took the loss with a 43 save effort.

Regina’s next in action Saturday, October 3 when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings at 7:00 pm on 620 CKRM.

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Regina, Saskatchewan – At the 2015-16 Home Opener, the Regina Pats announced the team’s 2015-16 leadership group.  The Blue and White will be captained by 20-year old defenceman Colby Williams with Adam Brooks, Sam Steel and Connor Hobbs serving as alternate captains for the season.

A Regina native, Colby Williams played his midget hockey with the Regina Pat Canadians before making the jump to the WHL as a 17-year old with the Pats.  A solid rookie season saw Williams post 19 assists before he broke out in his second year with 32 points (9G, 23A) in 66 games.  Last season saw the fleet footed defender continue to improve, picking up 41 points (11G, 30A) in 64 games as well as putting himself among the league leaders in plus/minus with a plus 45 rating.  Williams was named a WHL Eastern Conference Second Team All-Star for the 2014-15 season.  That performance led to the Washington Capitals making Williams their sixth round pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Another fourth year player, Adam Brooks started his WHL career with the Pats as a 16-year old in the 2012-13 season.  After picking up 23 points over his first two seasons, Brooks exploded for 62 points (30G, 32A) in the 2014-15 campaign.  The rise in production propelled the Winnipeg, MB product onto the CSS Draft Rankings by the end of the season.  Despite going undrafted in June, Brooks was invited to join the New York Rangers at the Traverse City rookie tournament where he scored a goal in his first game.

Though he has only played one season in Regina, Sam Steel made an immediate impact.  The 2013 2nd overall bantam pick racked up 54 points (17G, 37A) in just 61 games during his first season.  That contribution led to Steel being named the Pats Rookie of the Year.  The skilled forward landed a spot with Team Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup tournament where he won a gold medal.  Steel is a highly rated prospect for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Connor Hobbs is another former Ivan Hlinka participant, though in 2014.  Hailing from Saskatoon, SK, Hobbs was acquired from the Medicine Hat Tigers last season ahead of the trade deadline.  After joining the Pats, Hobbs picked up 16 points (1G, 15A) in 33 games and added two goals in the playoffs.  His play caught the attention of the Washington Capitals who selected Hobbs in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

(Courtesy Regina Pats)