THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

SLAPSHOTS:

– The Regina Pats are coming off a perfect weekend where they beat the Saskatoon Blades 5-2 on Friday and won over Swift Current 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday. That pushed their winning streak to three games. Daniel Wapple was fantastic over that stretch allowing just four goals on 87 shots for a .954 save percentage and a goals against under 2.00. His overall numbers have improved big time, now with a 2.80 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 14 games played.

Here are some more stats for you, because I like them. At the end of the day stats don’t tell the whole story and some say they are for losers but it’s still fun to look at:

– The Pats have given up the least goals of any East Division team with 46. Only the Edmonton Oil Kings and Medicine Hat Tigers have given up less goals in the Eastern Conference. Four Western Conference teams have less goals against as well but this young Pats team is playing some good defensive hockey. Especially when you consider that 22 goals against the Pats have come when they are shorthanded. The Pats have allowed just 23 goals 5 on 5 and one when they were on the powerplay. 5-on-5 they are a plus-14 in goals for and against.

– Patrick D’Amico is playing the best hockey of his WHL career. The Winnipeg product turned 20 on Tuesday and has already eclipsed his career high in goals this season. He has eight and leads the team through 17 games.  His previous high was six last year in 42 games played. His eight goals have him tied for 18th in the WHL.

– Dryden Hunt and Braden Christoffer lead the club with three powerplay goals each.

– Sam Steel is tied for 15th in powerplay assists with five. He is tied for 4th in rookie scoring with 12 points.

– Two of Colby Williams’ three goals this year have been game winners and two of Adam Brooks’ five have been winners as well. Only five players in the league have more game winners this year. Brooks has already surpassed his career highs in goals and is well on his way to surpassing his career high in points.

– Half of Morgan Klimchuk’s four goals have been the first-goals-of-games. Both came on the weekend against Saskatoon and then against Swift Current.

– Braden Christoffer leads the WHL is penalty minutes with 54.

Now on to other notes:

– Sam Steel and Canada Black finished the round robin at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge Tuesday night with a 4-3 win over Finland. Steel had an assist in the second period on a powerplay goal from Wheat Kings defenceman Kale Clague and then scored what would be the eventual game-winner early in the third period. Steel finished the preliminary round with a goal and two assists in the three games and is tied for the team lead. Canada Black went 1-1-1 and will take on the 3-0 Americans in the quarter-finals Thursday.

– The Regina Thunder had five players named major PFC Award winners for the 2014 season. Receiver Preston Bews was named Most Outstanding Player. Jaedon Marwick won Most Outstanding Quarterback. PFC Defensive All-Stars were Linebacker Brandon Whitehouse, Defensive Lineman Taylor Garrett and Defensive Back Chris Tunnicliffe. PFC Offensive All-Stars from the Thunder were QB Jaedon Marwick and Receiver Preston Bews.

– The Thunder graduate 10 players this year: Justin Bannin, Nick Brown, Taylor Garrett, Brady Keller, Shawn Russell, Brett Selinger, Chris Tunnicliffe, Brandon Whitehouse, Jaren Wirth and Andre Smith. Best of luck to all those guys going forward.

–  The Thunder’s annual Awards Dinner will take place on November 14th at the Turvey Centre. Be sure to get your tickets for a great night.

– Kerry Joseph starts for the Riders this weekend against Edmonton. Can’t say I’m surprised but at the same time I wouldn’t be surprised if Darian Durant got some reps in. Although he didn’t throw at all Tuesday so who knows.

– The Riders will know if they have to win to stay in the West for the playoffs or if the game doesn’t matter and they are headed East. The B.C. Lions will decide that depending on what happens when they host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. I for one think the Riders have a better chance going East.

– The Calgary Flames are a fun team to watch in the early goings this season. The Flames are second in the Pacific Division and are playing some really good hockey. Tuesday night Sean Monahan scored the OT winner in Washington in what was a fun hockey game to watch. Some weird bounces in that one that ended up in goals for both teams. Calgary looks good while the Oilers are floundering. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored a beauty last night for Edmonton in their loss to Philadelphia. How good is Jakub Voracek right now for the Flyers? Two more goals last night and he is second the NHL with 18 points.

– The Carolina Hurricanes have won three in a row after losing their first eighth. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets last night 4-2. One of their wins in the streak came against Los Angeles. Injuries have killed them in the early going but they don’t have a bad team.

– Really good news yesterday that Gordie Howe is recovering extremely well from his stroke he suffered last week. The Howe family released an update last night, scroll down to have a read.

– Pats TV on Access 7 this week features forwards Adam Brooks and Morgan Klimchuk as well as Assistant Coach Darrin McKechnie. Tonight at 7 PM.

That’s it from me today, have a great week.

Phil
@PhilTheThrill18


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