PATS BLUE & WHITE GAME TONIGHT!
The Regina Pats concluded the three team scrimmage portion of rookie camp on Sunday.
Teams Red and Blue started off the day with Team Red looking to clinch the best record for the weekend at The Cooperators Centre. Gary Haden continued his scoring ways to get the game started right for Team Red. Team Blue responded in a big way, scoring four unanswered markers from Dalton Ossman, Mackenzie Belinski, Jack Lenchyshyn and Jared Freadrich. Team Red stormed back with goals from Colby Brandt, Carson Welke and Brendan Mark to tie the game 4-4. Late in the contest Lane Zablocki came up clutch for his side, breaking the deadlock and giving Team Blue the 5-4 victory.
In the five o’clock matchup, Team Red and White traded goals through the first half with Red taking a 3-2 lead into the break. Red built on their advantage with goals from Brendan Mark and Carson Welke for a 5-2 edge. Undeterred, Team White climbed back into the contest with goals from Erik Gardiner and Braydon Buziak. Trailing by one heading into the final minute with the goaltender on the bench, Team White couldn’t find the back of the net for a tying goal in a 5-4 Red win.
The final scrimmage of camp saw Team Blue carry forward their momentum scoring the first four goals of the game. Jake Leschyshyn broke the run to get White on the board. Braydon Buziak cut the Blue lead in half, but Garrett Szeremley replied for Blue to restore the three goal advantage. Eric Otto got White back within two before the break and Erik Gardiner’s tip goal brought them within one to start off the final segment. Brayden Camrud scored his second marker of the day to put Team Blue up 6-4, only to have Brodie Girod respond for White as he finished off a back door pass from Gardiner. Once again, White pulled their goaltender, but couldn’t pull even as they fell by a 6-5 score.
The win moved Team Blue even with Team Red, both finishing the weekend with 3-1 records. Team White didn’t register a win through the scrimmages, but lost by only one goal in three of their four matchups.
Rookie camp concludes tomorrow evening with the annual Blue and White Game presented by Bennett Dunlop Ford at the Co-operators Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. as the top players from this weekend go head to head in their final opportunity to earn a place in the upcoming Rookie Showcase. Admission to the Blue and White Game is $2.00 or a non-perishable food item.
(Courtesy Daniel Fink)
