Sunday, March 04, 2007

Trying to figure out the Pats

The Regina Pats are a mystery - an enigma wrapped in a riddle. How can a junior hockey team be so good on home ice, yet so bad away from home?

That's the question puzzling those of us who follow the exploits of the Pats. The boys trounced Saskatoon 5-0 tonight, yet lost a 2-1 shootout decision to the same Blades (in Saskatoon) last night. What gives? The Pats have outscored the opposition 18-3 in their last three home games. Yet on the road they score less often than................well, you get the point.

Still, the Queen City Kids did manage to take five of a possible six points this weekend, and clinch a playoff spot in the process. That's a plus.

And I hereby start my official campaign to get Latvian import Kaspars Saulietis a golf shirt. We designate one player as the Taylor Toyota Hardest Working Pat on the CKRM post-game broadcast each night. A month ago I never would have dreamt it, but I'm gonna keep pushing until Kaspars (formerly the Friendly Ghost, but I've now renamed him the Latvian Locomotive) wins that award, and with it the complimentary golf shirt. Saulietis has turned his game around dramatically the past couple weeks - he's scoring, forechecking with abandon, fighting through checks and even throwing a few of his own. C'mon, who's with me? Let's get the Locomotive the recognition he deserves!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Saulietis has my vote! That boy has some mad skills with the puck, and lately, he's been rewarded with a few goals. He really doesn't quit, though. I can't believe how often and how HARD he gets hammered night in and night out and it doesn't even phase him! He's like a whack-a-mole...hit him and he pops right back up. It barely slows him down. Locomotive fits him well, I noticed tonight that he rarely goes around the opposition...he just goes right through them (or tries to).