REGINA – Two athletes from southeast Saskatchewan were part of the Regina Pat Canadians team that won the Saskatchewan U18 AAA championship on the weekend.
Defenceman Boston Tait of Estevan and forward Nathan Gardiner of Gainsborough spent their first season of U18 hockey with the Pat Canadians. Tait had played his entire minor hockey career in Estevan prior to this season, while Gardiner had been playing in Estevan for a number of years.
Tait had three goals and 20 assists in 41 games for the Pat Canadians this year, and added a goal and two assists in 10 postseason games. Gardiner, meanwhile, had eight goals and 19 assists in 40 games during the regular season, and added three assists in 10 playoff games.
The Pat Canadians were the class of the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League throughout the season. They had the top record in the regular season at 35-7-2, good for 72 points, and went 9-1 in the playoffs.
Regina swept the Prince Albert Raiders in the first round, knocked off the two-time league champions, the Saskatoon Blazers, in a four-game semifinal, and then swept the Moose Jaw Generals in three straight in the league final. While the Pat Canadians won all three games, two of the contests were decided by a goal, and the deciding game on March 27 was a 3-1 decision.
Moose Jaw was the No. 2 team in the regular season.
Regina has advanced to the Western Regionals Tournament in Kenora, Ont., from April 3-6. The winner of that tournament moves on to the Telus Cup national tournament.
