PATS 5 WARRIORS 4 (OT)
MOOSE JAW – A soldout crowd of 4,442 at Mosaic Place got what they came to see Thursday night: the number one team in all of junior hockey. They also got an entertaining, end-to-end hockey game.
Sam Steel scored on the powerplay just 19 seconds into overtime to lift the Regina Pats to their ninth consecutive victory, 5-4 over the Warriors. The Pats went into the weekend as the #1-ranked team in the CHL for a second straight week.
The Pats outshot the Warriors 51-27, however they trailed 2-1 after the opening period. They rebounded to outshoot the Warriors 19-1 in the middle frame and carried a 3-2 lead into the third.
Rookie Swede Filip Ahl led the Pats with a hattrick while Dawson Leedahl also found the net.
Moose Jaw goalie Zach Sawchenko was rightfully named the game’s #1 star after a 46-save effort. There were times he was so exhausted, he looked reluctant to get up.
Scoring for the Warriors (11-4-3) were Nikita Popugaev (2), Noah Gregor and Tristan Langan.
Regina went a devastating 4/7 on the powerplay and 2/4 killing penalties in the first of an 8-game season series.
Regina (13-0-3) remains the only team in the CHL without a regulation loss and they return to the ice Sunday at 4:00 pm when they host the Red Deer Rebels in the Brandt Centre on 620 CKRM.
RP
@rodpedersen
As Moose jaw born raised Warrior fan, 4,442 people probably 60-40 % more or less Warrior fans as picture in this blog and few friends in stands said a lot of empty seats. Great rivalry and I was young boy in 80's saw great rivalry between these teams back than, Thursday night seemed to rekindle competitiveness. They have 7 more games hope equally exciting as last night. I hope fans in Moose Jaw fill the rink as they had no problems back in day old Civic Center especially when Pats were in town. Seems like last night mostly Regina fans… Read more »
Pats should trade for Zach Sawchenko and Ethan Bear. If they can make this happen, I like their chances the rest of year in winning most or all games. I know it will come at a price. But the time is now. Adding these 2 fine players will complete the puzzle and I gaurantee this team will be WHL & Memorial Cup Champs in 2017! Go Pats Go!
Tom
Very entertaining game and great atmosphere. Looking forward to the next game, the rivalry is back!! When the Warriors get back to full strength will be playoff type hockey. Pat's will need a 60 minute effort to beat a very good warriors team.
Go Pats
Hey Anonymous #2- Bear and Sawchenko would definitely put the Pats in a good place, but that is hardly realistic. The Warriors just traded for Burke, they are not going to unload a great goalie to the Pats of all teams. Now that Barzal is back with Seattle, they are going to climb the standings as well. I pushed for Bear to come to Regina earlier in the year, but Barzal's return changes things. Guhle (PA) might be more of a realistic add at the moment. Must admit that I enjoyed the show in MJ last night. The new lights,… Read more »
Anon 1. You must not have been at the game. It is estimated that there were 500 Pat fans & they were loud but not as loud as the Warrior fans. It was a great hockey game entertaining to the very end. The Pats are very good and shoot a lot I can see why Regina is excited.but so are we! I hope these teams meet in the 2nd or 3rd round of the playoffs it would be a lot of fun. Both rinks would be full & this Warrior fan would be making the trek to Regina. I am… Read more »
Great game last night. Warriors missing a couple of their big guns so Pats better be prepared for next meeting. Was glad to see Pats' Coaches finally sit a couple of their players for a few shifts after taking needless penalties in 1st period that could have cost them the game. If not for those Warrior PP's and resulting 2 PP goals I beleive Pats would have likely walked away with it, but momentum changed drastically at that point. Holding a pretty good Team to 1 shot in a period (and that was with less than a minute left in… Read more »
Tom. Why would the Warriors trade Sawchenko to the Pats when they have a chance to win come playoff time?? Very Riginaish give yourself a whack on the head!!!!!
If the Pats trade for a goalie, they should go after that kid in Kamloops.
The Champs still undefeated in regulation through 16 games. They also have 5-6 players in the top 25 scoring entire WHL and the +- of a few Pats are insane so far.
This year's Pats team is something special. Looking forward to many more great games this year. GO PATS GO!
Ya that goalie in Kamloops is also a Saskie kid from Imperial, SK. Drafted 3rd round by TB Lightning – go get him Pats .