Seriously, this Jekyll and Hyde routine is getting on my nerves! The Pats picked up three of a possible six points this weekend, as all good .500 teams do. First, they blew a 4-2 lead to Prince Albert Friday night, and lost 5-4 in a shootout. They rebounded to blank Red Deer 3-0 Saturday night. Then they dropped a 3-2 decision (they trailed 3-0 with four minutes left in the game) in Swift Current last night. So, which is it? Are the Pats the hardworking, quick and aggressive team that outclassed Red Deer, or the sleepwalking crew that was almost blanked by Speedy Creek? Damned if I know!
On the bright side, Yoda seemed to enjoy the view from the press box Saturday night. I may even go so far as to say she brightened up the place. Not that Rodney P. isn't a vision of loveliness, mind you...
The Pats have the week to prepare for a three-games-in-three-nights tour of Alberta on the weekend. And the Saskatchewan Roughriders may announce their new Head Coach this week. It looks as though Kent Austin has slipped past Dave Ritchie as the odds-on favourite to get the gig. Is that a good thing? Frankly, I'm not sure. I'm quite happy to let Eric Tillman make the call on that one.
10 comments:
I am glad Hunt didn't try to put this one on the Ref. Like he said it should have never got to the last second. too many passengers.
A pro scout recently said to me about the Pats. "Not good enough to be good, Not bad enough to be bad" I think a lot of people expected more.
Sounds like Deck's injury is pretty serious. Sometimes you have to say thanks for your service, and move on. I hope the Pats can package Bernhardt and someone else to get a quality player. This guy has sat out 5 games and is still the teams 5th leading scorer. Got to get something for him.
Any word on what's happening with Rinehart? It sounded like Fraipont might be coming back with the team, thoughts?
The mid point of the season is fast approaching. By the Christmas break they will have played 35 games. It's beginning to look like they will be extremely fortunate to be at .500 going into the break. I think hockey writers are going to view this team as a bit of a disappointment in the WHL, especially when league coaches had them winning the division. Lets not forget this is a weak division when a team at .500 or just under can be in seconed place!!! A couple of facts: the Lerthbridge Hurricanes are last in the Central and have the same points as the Pats. The PA Raiders and Pats are equal in the loss collum.....Might be time to get some new ingredients and bake a new cake!!!!
Not a whole new cake, just tinker with the recipe a bit. No word on Derek R. yet. He needs to decide if he wants to keep chasing the dream before he can be dealt. Hate having an unused resource sitting at home - shades of what happened with Shane Halifax last year.
Fraipont plays the type of game that's missing on the Pats blueline (physical, stay-at-home type), but I don't if he's the answer. It's possible Brent Parker might pick up a blue-liner as part of the Bernhardt deal. Hopefully not just a d-man - they need to get somebody with 20-30 goal potential as well.
I predict the Pats will be 1-2 games below .500 at the break. Which, thanks to the parity/weakness of the East division, will still give them a shot at catching Brandon for first. Sad, but true.
Here's a depressing thought: the last Regina Pat to hit the 60 point (not 100, just friggin' 60!)level was Kevin Korol in 2001-02. The Pats had four players reach 60 points that year. And none since. Yuck.
Very good comments Pete. I am sticking by them because maybe something happens which turns the season around. I am still not happy with what I have seen so far. They need to get better.
I remeber the early 80's as I'm sure you do being a mature fan like me..lol. Three divisional Championships, Three league championship appearances, one league title, one Memorial Cup appearance, over .600 hockey. Numerous 50 goal men, numerous first round and high round draft picks. All of this in a 6 yr span.
I know what I want to see again. For the time being I will be happy just to have them play consistently good........
Who the heck is Yoda? Sounds like your girlfriend??
Here is another depressing thought! Josh Holden was the last forward from the Pats taken in the first round NHL(correct me if I am wrong).
We have done a poor job finding offensive players. The Tigers found Helm playing tier2 in Wpg. He xcored 40 goals as an 18 yr old and got drafted last year. A couple of yrs before that a kid by the name of Joffrey Lupul walked on. They say he turned into a pretty good player. We can seldom ever find those gems.
Of the Fab 5 they called them last year, only one player was selected by a whisker. Second last over all. Tons of high school and tier2 kids were taken over our fab5. That has gotta tell you something. The Pats should have seen the red flags. Mediocre 16 yr old become mediocre 19 yr olds. It happens every time. Last year 4 of their top 5 forwards were traded for. They should have seen the signs..
OLD FAN
Actually Helms was cast off playing JrB in Wpg..ouch that hurts even more!
OLD FAN
Sadly you nailed it. Josh Holden and Derek Morris were selected 12th and 13th overall in 1996. The only Pats taken in the first round since then have been defencemen: Brad Stuart was taken with the 3rd overall pick in 1998, and Barret Jackman was selected 17th in the 1999 draft. There's been a definite lack of firepower in the Queen City lately and yes..........if I'm reading between the lines of your comments correctly.........it includes most of the years the Parker family has owned the team. For what it's worth.
I'm too old to call anyone a "girl" friend. But she's obviously not a wife, since I speak kindly of her! And why the name Yoda? Small and wise - as opposed to wrinkled and brownish-green. Although, in the right light...
Ya maybe I do have some issues with two sets of ownerships individually having sub .500 records during their respective tenures. Cumulatively over 20 yrs being sub .500 detracts from this being a storied franchise.
I see the Riders signed Crandell and Butler. I'm wondering what they told Crandell to sign here. I am sure he doesn't want to be a back-up forever. Could it mean that Joseph may be moved..uummm!
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