THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy December!

– What a road trip for the Regina Pats through the B.C. Division. Going 4-1-0 with wins over Vancouver, Prince George, Kamloops and Kelowna. Here are some numbers from the trip:

In the four wins the Pats outscored their opponents 21-8 and finished the trip overall outscoring their opponents 21-13. Connor Gay scored 4 goals and added 4 assists, Dryden Hunt scored twice and added 7 assists, Morgan Klimchuk knotted 3 goals and 3 assists, Kyle Burroughs scored twice and had 3 assists and was a plus 6. He now leads the WHL at plus 27 on the year.

– Daniel Wapple continued his absolute tear in the month November. He won all three of his starts on the trip and finished the month 8-1-0-0 with a 2.19 GAA and a .931 SV %. He was named the WHL goalie of the month yesterday and well deserved. He has won 7 in a row going into tonight’s game against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

– It’s amazing the response this Pats club got from the teams in the B.C. Division. From coaches to trainers and broadcasters, they all said they could not believe how fast and structured the Pats played. I tell you what, this is an extremely well coached team.

– The Pats will be without forward Austin Wagner tonight against Brandon in the Brandt Centre as he serves the second of his two game suspension for a check to the head major against the Kamloops Blazers on Friday.

– Colby Williams’ status is up in the air after he suffered an undisclosed injury in Kamloops. Senior VP and Head Coach John Paddock says Williams is day to day.

– The Brandon Wheat Kings bring an 8 game winning streak over the Pats into tonight’s teddy bear toss game at the Brandt Centre. It’s the third meeting of this season between the two teams with Brandon winning both games to start he year on opening weekend. However it’s safe to say these are two very different clubs from back then and should be a good game to watch tonight.

– Only two home games for the Pats before Christmas, good time as any tonight to come see these guys who are playing some darn good hockey.

– Huge congrats to Morgan Klimchuk who was invited to Team Canada’s selection camp for the World Juniors. It’s his last crack and making the club. He has worn the Maple Leaf well in the past winning gold at the Ivan Hlinka in 2012 and at the World U 18’s in 2013. He showed well at their summer camp and I thought was one of the best forwards at the Subway Super Series. I think his versatility will be an advantage. He can play on both the right and left wing, good news because Team Canada only invited 2 natural right wingers. Not to mention he can play up and down in the lineup, kill penalties and bring offense. John Paddock called him the best two way winger among 19 year old’s in the WHL and said he would be surprised if he didn’t make the club. I think he will make it too.

– I wonder if the Pats might get an honorable mention in the CHL Top 10 rankings which will be released today. They’ve won 11 of 13, hottest team in the WHL and have beaten some of the best.

– Sticking with the WHL, couldn’t go on without some family promotion. My cousin Gage Ramsay scored his first goal in the league on the weekend for the Vancouver Giants in their 6-3 win in Calgary over the Hitmen.

– Still on the Giants, I was a little surprised to see them part ways with head coach Troy Ward after 20 something games. Yes the team wasn’t performing like they wanted but it was still quite early. They’ve since hired former Winnipeg Jets bench boss Claude Noel, now I wish we played them again this year, simply for the pre-game interview.

– On to the NHL, The Oilers have lost 10 in a row and have not won at home in over a month. Something has to give.

The St. Louis Blues have signed goaltender Martin Brodeur to a 1 year contract. I hope he does well, would hate to see the best of all time end things on a sour note.

– Super excited the Jays acquired Josh Donaldson from the Oakland Athletics last week. Yes they sent Canadian Brett Lawrie the other way but Lawrie struggled last year and has never been healthy. Now here’s hoping the club can keep Melky Cabrera and add a starter and a closer. It’s a lot to ask I know but I feel a lot more optomistic about next season today than I did a month ago.

– The Washington Redskins started Colt McCoy over Robert Griffin on the weekend. McCoy fared alright, had a good second half anyways. But what’s the plan for Griffin going forward? Are his days in Washington numbered? I think they might be. Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles should bring him over, could you imagine RG3 running that offense? Would be dynamite.

– I fell asleep during the Grey Cup. Mostly because I had just gotten off the bus for 15 hours from Kelowna. But much like the entire season in the CFL, it didn’t do a lot for me. Wish I could have seen the drama at the end live however.

– Tonight’s episode of Pats TV features Kyle Burroughs and Connor Gay along with Daniel Fink. 6:30 on Access 7.

That’s it from me, talk to you from the Brandt Centre tonight.

Phil
@PhilTheThrill18