Regina Pats lose 6-2 to Blades, remain winless in pre-season

Pats aren’t scoring or winning during WHL pre-season

Published Sep 14, 2023 • Last updated 7 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Regina Pats forward Borya Vails swats at the loose puck during a WHL pre-season game against the Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday, September 13 at the Brandt Centre in Regina. Photo by Keith Hershmiller /jpg

The Regina Pats aren’t scoring much during their short WHL pre-season.

They lost 6-2 to the visiting Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday at the Brandt Centre. The Pats are winless in three exhibition contests (0-2-1) and have tallied just three times as they prepare for their final pre-season tuneup, a road game Friday against the Prince Albert Raiders.

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It was the first pre-season action for five veterans as the Pats new hierarchy of head coach Brad Herauf and general manager Alan Millar decide who will make their team’s season-opening lineup. The Pats have already trimmed their roster to 27 players, with one of the moves being the reassignment of underage forward Cameron Kuzma, who had scored Regina’s lone pre-season goal after tallying three times in their intrasquad game.

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“We’re only playing four games so it’s kind of a funky preseason schedule,” said Herauf. “We gave the first two games to our young guys because we wanted to get a look at them.

“These last two games are gonna be for our veterans and for some people who are pushing for the last couple spots.”

The Pats outshot the Blades 30-23 but only Tanner Howe, on a second-period power play, and Tye Spencer beat Saskatoon goalie Evan Gardner. Regina’s Sam Oremba also missed a second-period penalty shot.

Jordan Keller, with two goals, Tyler Parr, Zach Moore, William James and Rowan Calvert scored for Saskatoon.

“We’ve been getting some looks,” said Herauf. “(Veteran Borya) Valis had two or three chances.

“When the chances start drying up that’s when we start looking at our systematical play and see if we have to change it. Right now we’re getting looks, we just haven’t put the puck in the back of the net.”

Spencer’s tally came early in the third period and pulled Regina into a 2-2 tie before Saskatoon scored four unanswered goals on Kelton Pyne.

“We were working hard for it,” said Herauf. “Right up until the last 10 minutes, when they got some cheesy goals and we had a couple, little mental breakdowns.”

Saskatoon had also been winless in two starts before Wednesday, while playing without six players who are attending NHL training camps.

The Pats start their regular season Sept. 22 against the Brandon Wheat Kings and play their first home game Sept. 23 against the Blades.