THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

SAYING GOODBYE – It’s been one of those happy/sad weeks for myself and a number of other Regina Pats employees. Director of Media and Communications as well as my broadcast partner for the last four years, Daniel Fink has accepted a new position with the Manitoba Moose. Fink will be working as Manager of Hockey Communications with the AHL club. Daniel is first and foremost a great person and a great friend, he will certainly be missed. He is also incredibly talented as a communications person and a broadcaster and he will be missed from a work standpoint. Good things happen to good people and I hope you join me in wishing Daniel all the best in this next step of his career.

BROOKS MAKES GOOD 1ST IMPRESSION – Regina Pats star Adam Brooks was in Toronto for the Maple leafs Development Camp last week. People covering and watching the camp were very impressed with the Winnipeg product. That won’t come as a surprise to us in Regina and it’s great to see him having success. Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun tweeted this on Monday:

The biggest surprise at Leafs Development Camp: The consistently strong play of 4th round draft pick Adam Brooks.
— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) July 11, 2016

ROCKETS HIRE FORMER PAT – The Kelowna Rockets have named Jason Smith as the team’s new head coach. Smith, a former captain of the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers, played 1,008 games over a 15-year career in the NHL, and was most recently an assistant coach with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators for the past two seasons. Smith, 42, is a former WHL player, having played for the Regina Pats (1990-93), before moving on to the NHL where he played with New Jersey, Toronto, Edmonton, Philadelphia and Ottawa. After his retirement in 2008-09, he joined the Senators’ organization, first in player development and the past two seasons as an assistant coach, on the bench with the Senators.

SILVERTIPS ACQUIRE GOALIE –  The Everett Silvertips have acquired goaltender Lasse Petersen from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a sixth round selection in the 2017 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, Petersen, 19, split last season between the Chiefs and Calgary Hitmen in his first WHL season with a 12-7-1 record, three shutouts, and a 2.99 goals-against-average in 25 appearances. After being acquired by Spokane, he earned a shutout in his team debut on Nov. 11 against the Silvertips and posted a 7-2-1 record with two shutouts to begin his stint with the Chiefs.

SCHLENKER GETS NHL CALL – Another former Regina Pat is moving on up. Referee Chris Schlenker is reportedly one of four officials headed to the NHL this season. Schlenker was named the WHL’s top official, having received the Allen Paradice Memorial Trophy at the WHL Awards this year. Schlenker was a defenceman in the Western Hockey League from 2001-2005 playing for Regina and Prince Albert and collected 786 penalty minutes to go along with 94 points in 5 seasons.

LEES COMMITS – The Prince Albert Raiders announced graduating defenceman Jesse Lees has committed to the Mount Royal University Cougars for the upcoming CIS season. Lees capped off his five-year WHL career with 23 goals and 35 assists in 71 games during the 2015-16 season with the Raiders, good for eighth in league scoring amongst defenceman. Mount Royal is located in Lees hometown of Calgary.

CANADA GOLDEN – Canada’s Junior National Team defeated the United States 24 – 6 in the gold medal game at the 2016 IFAF U19 World Championship in China on Sunday. A huge congrats to Regina Thunder players Logan Ferland, Polis Koko and Carson Bell as well as Regina product Mason Nyhus on bringing home gold!!!

RIDERS – The club may be 0-2 but I think there is a lot optimism surrounding the team. Fans seem to be encouraged with the way the team has played in the first two weeks and they should be. There have been a ton of positives. Yes it is tough to lose a game in Edmonton they led with 19 seconds remaining but they showed a ton of character coming back from down 14 late in the 4th. I LOVE the aggressive play calling from Chris Jones and his staff. I honestly think B.C. is in tough this weekend at Mosaic.

That’s all I have for today, have a great week!

Phil
@PhilAndrewsCKRM