PATS BEAT COUGARS 5-4 IN SHOOTOUT THRILLER

REGINA – The Regina Pats came back from down 3-1 to beat the Prince George Cougars 5-4 in a shootout on Wednesday night at the Brandt Centre. 

In the first, Fillip Koffer scored twice in the first 12 minutes to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Carson Denomie got one back for the Pats, his 12th of the campaign, to make it 2-1. Prince George restored the two-goal lead just over a minute later and led 3-1 after 20 minutes. In the second, the Pats got to within one when Riley Krane set up Logan Nijhoff on a two on one for his seventh and it was 3-2. 50 seconds later Carson Denomie tipped in a point shot for his 13th and it was a 3-3 game. Prince George took the lead back late in the second on a goal from Connor Bowie and it was 4-3 after two. In the third, Logan Nijhoff found a tying goal with 3:12 remaining, his second of the night and eighth of the season. That forced overtime and eventually a shootout. The shootout went five and Zach Smith scored the winner as the Pats took the extra point in a 5-4 final score.

The Pats outshot the Cougars 46-35, the powerplay went oh for two and the penalty kill one for two. Austin Pratt, Carson Denomie and Logan Nijhoff led the offence with two-point nights, while Max Paddock made 31 saves and added four more in the shootout.

The Pats (12-21-3-2) are back in action on Saturday when they kick off a five-game, U.S. Division road trip against the Tri-City Americans at 9 p.m. Regina time on 620 CKRM.

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The Regina Pats Hockey Club has announced they have traded 18-year-old defenceman Tyson Feist to the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.

Feist was acquired by the Pats from Spokane in January of 2019, he played in 53 games with Regina, tallying 11 assists. For his career, he has put up 16 assists in 86 games with the Pats and Chiefs.

“We wish Tyson all the best in Kelowna,” said Pats VP of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Paddock. “He is a great person and we look forward to watching him compete for the Memorial Cup in May.”

In the trade, the Pats add another pick to the 2020 Bantam Draft. Currently the Pats hold a first (Swift Current’s), second (Everett’s) and three fourth round picks (Regina’s, Seattle’s and Kelowna’s) to start the draft.The Pats will return to action on Saturday night when they kick off their U.S. Division road swing against the Tri-City Americans. Next home game is January 24 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Tickets are available at reginapats.com, the Brandt Centre Box Office or at any Regina Safeway where Fun Zone vouchers are $13 plus tax.

(Phil Andrews/ReginaPats.c0m)