WARRIORS 4 PATS 0
MOOSE JAW – The Moose Jaw Warriors – and specifically 19-year old goaltender Zach Sawchenko – spoiled the party for the Regina Pats before 4715 fans in Mosaic Place Saturday evening.
On the same night Regina was named the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup, Sawchenko made 37 saves in a 4-0 Warriors victory over their top rival.
In a predictably tight contest, the game’s first goal didn’t come until the 17:39 mark of the first period when Josh Brook scored on the powerplay for the locals.
The teams kept it clean through the second period, and although the Pats cranked it up in the third, the Warriors’ Jayden Halbgewachs made it 2-0 on a disputed goal with 4:49 remaining. It was a crease crash, which went to video review.
Things got hairy from there as the Tribe’s Brett Howden scored a 90-foot empty-netter – making it 3-0 – with 1:16 remaining. He was belted into the boards on the play by the Pats’ Connor Hobbs which touched off a mild melee. Hobbs was assessed a 5-minute checking-to-the-head major which led to Branden Klatt’s powerplay goal with 8 seconds remaining to cap the scoring at 4-0.
The powerplays were somewhat lopsided, with Moose Jaw going 2/5 and Regina just 0/1.
The shots ended 37-28 Regina, and Pats goalie Tyler Brown took the loss in goal.
The Pats (41-9-6-1) return to action Monday at 4:00 pm on 620 CKRM. Their next home action is February 26 versus Swift Current.
RP
@rodpedersen
