REGINA — The news around the Regina Pats was about the present and the future.
The Pats made tweaks at the national deadline as they seek success this Western Hockey League season. On Friday night, the Saskatoon Blades clashed in Regina with the host Pats prevailing 7-4. Captain Connor Bedard scored a hattrick and recorded five points for the winners. The Pats were 2-0 last week. As of Sunday, the Regina squad had a 21-19-1-1 record.
The NHL Central Scouting’s 2023 NHL Draft Mid-Season Ranking was released last week. The Pats had two players listed: Bedard (top ranked North American skater) and fellow forward Borya Valis (183 among N.A. skaters). Bedard leads the WHL with 77 points, 36 goals, and 41 assists in 31 games. Valis has 15 goals and 34 points in 38 games.
In addition, the lineups for the 2023 NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game were also announced. Bedard was picked to play in Langley, B.C. for Team Red. The contest puts the major junior Canadian Hockey League’s top draft eligible talent on display.
At the national trade deadline, the Regina team brought 2003-born forward Steel Quiring to town from Everett in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. The 6-foot-2, 188-pounder hails from Vernon. He had three goals and six points in 30 games this season with Everett. Quiring started the season with Calgary, where he recorded an assist in two games. He made an immediate impact with the Pats – scoring in his first game.
In the first period on Friday, Bedard, on a powerplay, and Blades forward Trevor Wong traded goals. Zack Stringer put Regina on top, 2-1, on a second period powerplay goal. Quiring lit the lamp to give the Pats a 3-1 lead. Sidorov cut Regina’s lead to one, 3-2, before the end of the period.
Six goals were scored in the third period. Bedard had two in the frame for Regina, while his teammates Braxton Whitehead and Valis also had goals. Brandon Lisowsky and Molendyk scored Saskatoon’s goals in the period.
Regina goalie Drew Sim made 21 saves. Ethan Chadwick stopped 18 shots for Saskatoon. Regina’s Stanislav Svozil recorded four assists. Wong had three points for the Blades.
The next night the host Pats earned a 4-3 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. After a 1-1 first period, Regina was able to outscore the visitors, 3-2, in the second session. Bedard scored on the powerplay and also had the game winner late in the second period. Also scoring for the Pats were Whitehead and Alexander Suzdalev. Sim had 30 saves in the win.
The Pats are in Swift Current Friday to take on the Broncos. They host the same team on Saturday.
