SATURDAY SPORTS PAGE: PATS SHOCK WHEAT KINGS!

WHL

Brandon, Man. – The Regina Pats started off their 2023-24 season with a bang. The Regiment picked up a 7-6 come-from-behind overtime win over the Brandon Wheat Kings at Westoba Place on Friday.

The Pats overcame a 3-0 deficit early in the game, and grabbed an opening night victory for the second time over their last three seasons. Braxton Whitehead scored his first career overtime goal, while Matteo Michels lit the lamp twice and Parker Berge and Layton Feist found the back of the net.

But one of the biggest highlights came late in the third period where Cole Temple picked up the tying goal for his first WHL goal, doing so in his hometown of Brandon, MB. Ewan Huet recorded his first career WHL win, making 18 saves.

The Pats outshot the Wheat Kings 35-14 in the final 50 minutes of the game and 37-24 overall. The Pats finished 2-4 on their power play and 2-4 on their penalty kill.

(ReginaPats.com)

Elsewhere:
Medicine Hat 4 Calgary 1
Lethbridge 3 Swift Current 1
P.A. 4 Moose Jaw 0
Edmonton 4 Red Deer 2
Spokane 5 Kamloops 4
Prince George 9 Tri-City 0
Vancouver 4 Victoria 1
Wenatchee 6 Portland 1

CFL

EDMONTON – Taquan Mizzell ran in a pair of touchdowns as the B.C. Lions clinched a playoff spot with a 37-29 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Friday.

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns to help B.C. (10-4) win three games in a row.

Canadian QB Tre Ford had two TD passes on 182 yards as Edmonton (4-11) saw its faint playoff hopes almost disappear.

The Elks at least managed to score a point against the Lions after stunningly being shutout out in both of their previous meetings against B.C. this season.

The Lions came roaring out of the gate with a surgical opening drive, needing just seven consecutive successful plays to set up a five-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Justin McInnis.

Things didn’t go nearly as well on their next possession, however, as Adams floated a ball too high and it was picked off and returned 56 yards by Kai Gray for the pick six TD, ending Edmonton’s season-long scoring drought against the Lions.

MLB

The Toronto Blue Jays are inching closer to a playoff berth. Chris Bassitt became the American League’s second 15-game winner and Toronto beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2. Bassitt tied Tampa Bay’s Zach Eflin for the A-L lead in wins. The Blue Jays hold the second A-L wild-card spot.

The Texas Rangers are in first place in the American League West for the first time in September. Corey Seager got Texas started with his 32nd homer and rookie Evan Carter added a three-run blast in an 8-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers and Mariners began the day tied for the American League’s third and final wild-card spot.

(Canadian Press)