PATS GAME DAY: VS RAIDERS

PRINCE ALBERT (15-9-2) at REGINA (14-12-0)
7 pm, Brandt Centre, Regina
620 CKRM (Phil Andrews, Daniel Fink)
Access 7 TV (Rod Pedersen, Nevin Markwart)

Head-to-Head
The Regina Pats (14-12-0-0) play their fourth game of the season against the Prince Albert Raiders (15-9-2-0) tonight.  All three previous meetings between the teams have gone in the favour of Prince Albert which holds a 3-0-0-0 record against Regina this season.  Boston Leier leads the Pats into tonight’s game with a goal and an assist in three games against the Raiders in 2013-14.  Josh Morrissey is the top Raider against the Pats with six points (3G, 3A) in three games this year.  Coming into tonight, the Blue and White battled to a 5-3-0-0 record over eight straight road games.  The Raiders displayed their offensive flair in their previous contest with an 8-2 win over Lethbridge.  This evening’s game can be heard on 620 CKRM starting at 6:35 p.m. and watched on Access 7 starting at 7:00 p.m.

Lead Up:
The Blue and White went into Medicine Hat hoping to come away with an impressive sixth road win in eight games, but the Tigers had other ideas and spoiled Boston Leier and Dawson MacAuley’s return to the Hat, beating the Pats 5-1.  Geordie Maguire opened the scoring for Regina before the Tigers went on to score five unanswered the rest of the way.  Trevor Cox had four points while Cole Sanford tallied two goals in the Tigers’ 5-1 victory.

Honouring the Champs
The Celebration in Rider Nation comes to the Brandt Centre when members of the 2013 Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders are honoured in a pre-game ceremony.  The Grey Cup will be in the house and fans will be able to take pictures with the Cup during the intermissions.  It’s also BMO Ultimate Fan Night, so put on your best Pats gear for your chance to be named the Ultimate Fan and be entered to win a trip to the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup.

Home Sweet Home
The last time the Pats took to the ice in front of their home fans was November 3rd in a 3-1 win over Moose Jaw.  On home ice, the Pats hold a 6-3-0-0 record.  Their powerplay sits at 20.4% (10/49) and penalty kill has a 73.2% (30/41) success rate.  The Blue and White are 13-3-0-0 over their past sixteen games on home ice against the Raiders.

Introductions are in Order
Defenceman Jesse Zgraggen was acquired by the Pats back on November 3rd, but he has yet to play in a home game.  All eight of his games played with the Pats have come on the road.  In those games Zgraggen has four points (1G, 3A) and is a +2.  Also in his first game at the Brandt Centre is back-up goaltender Nick Schneider who made his WHL debut in a 5-3 loss to the Tri-City Americans during the Pats’ road stretch.

Back from the Subway Super Series
Chandler Stephenson and Morgan Klimchuk will be very deserving of a break after this weekend.  They will have played four straight nights after returning from the Subway Super Series.  Wednesday night saw Team WHL fall 3-2 to Team Russia.  Morgan Klimchuk had an assist last night in Team WHL’s 4-2 win over Russia to clinch the Series for the CHL.

Who to Watch on Prince Albert
Forward Mike Winther plays his first game against the Pats and at the Brandt Centre since his hit on Connor Gay resulting in a suspension for Winther and Gay missing some games.  Despite limited games (15) Winther has 13 points (2G, 11A).

Upcoming Schedule
vs. Moose Jaw – Saturday, November 30th, 7:00 p.m. – Brandt Centre (CKRM)
at Brandon – Wednesday, December 4th, 7:00 p.m. – Westman Place (CKRM)
at Moose Jaw – Friday, December 6th, 7:00 p.m. – Mosaic Place (CKRM)

(Courtesy Daniel Fink/Pats PR)