THE WEDNESDAY THRILLER … WITH PHIL ANDREWS

Voice of the Pats Phil Andrews

Happy Wednesday Everybody!

PATS GET FIRST WIN – The Pats got two goals and an assist in Prince Albert on Saturday night and beat the Raiders 4-2 to improve to 1-0-1-0 on the year. The Pats took a 1-0 lead midway through the first only to see the Raiders score two unanswered to go up 2-1. The Pats powerplay drew them even on Lane Zablocki’s first of the year and then Braydon Buziak gave the Pats the 3-2 on a tip. In the 3rd the Pats held off the Raiders and then Jake Leschyshyn scored into an empty net to make it 4-2 and that was the final score. The Pats kick off a five game home stand on Friday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings at 7 o’clock. The club will then host the Red Deer Rebels on Sunday at 4 p.m.

BUCKING THE TREND – The Pats are off to their best start in five years after picking up three of four points on opening weekend. In 2015/16 the club won one game against Moose Jaw but in the three previous years came up empty, going 0-2-0-0. You have to go back to 2011/12 to find a better opening weekend when the Pats went two and oh against the Swift Current Broncos. In the last 10 years, only two times did the Pats pick up four points in their first two games.

BUZIAK DOES IT AGAIN – Pats forward Braydon Buziak is off to a great start to his WHL career. The 18-year-old from Battleford Saskatchewan has goals in each of his first two games in the league. On Friday last week he scored the game tying goal in the 3rd to force overtime against the Raiders and then scored the eventual game winner the next night in Prince Albert. It’s always good to see guys like Braydon succeed. And he is pretty excited about it to: http://reginapats.com/video/10217-2

HOBBS MAKES NHL PRE-SEASON DEBUT – Pats defenceman Connor Hobbs was in the lineup last night for the Washington Capitals in Montreal against the Canadiens. Hobbs logged 23 minutes of ice time, 7 shifts on the PP and 4 on the PK, recorded 1 assist, was -1 and had 2 hits. He also took a dirty hit from behind from Andrew Shaw which led to a fight. Luckily Hobbs stayed in the game. He remains with the NHL club today and it remains to be seen when he will come back to Regina.

ZBOROVSKIY REASSIGNED – The NHL’s New York Rangers have assigned defenceman Sergey Zborovskiy back to the Regina Pats. Zborovskiy is a signed prospect of the Rangers and was selected in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.The Moscow, Russia product, scored eight goals and added 17 assists in 2015/16 and is entering his 19-year-old season. Four Pats remain at NHL training camps. Adam Brooks (TOR), Austin Wagner (LAK), Connor Hobbs (WSH) and Sam Steel (ANA). We will have to wait and seee how many more make their way back to Regina ahead of Friday.

SILVERTIPS ADD EUROPEAN – The Everett Silvertips announced  the team has acquired forward Dominic Zwerger from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a third round selection in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. The Silvertips also placed Mario Mucka on waivers. Zwerger, 20, was originally selected by Spokane in the second round of the 2013 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, and last season led Spokane in goals (27), was second in points (55), third in power play points (14), and tied for third in game winning goals (3) while suiting up in 65 games. He earned 15 multi point games and added four points (1g-3a) in six playoff games. For his WHL career, he has suited up in 189 career games while tallying 119 points (60g-59a) and a +22 rating.nMucka earned an assist in one WHL game. The Silvertips roster still contains two import players, Zwerger and forward Eetu Tuulola (Finland).

GIANTS ACQUIRE RATTIE FROM RED DEER – The Vancouver Giants announced on Friday that the hockey club has acquired 1998-born winger Taden Rattie from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a sixth round WHL Bantam Draft pick in 2017. Rattie, who hails from Airdrie, Alberta, is listed at 6’4” and 191 lbs. The 18-year-old played 25 games for the Rebels in 2015/16, scoring one goal along the way. He is the younger brother of former Portland Winterhawk standout Ty Rattie.

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

Phil
@Phil_Andrews_