Regina Pats Column

For what it's worth, here's my report from this week's edition of the CHL Prospects Hockey Insider:

Training Camp Down to Short Strokes

By Pete Paczko

Aspiring Regina Pats are running out of opportunities to impress the coaching staff, as the team has just one exhibition contest left to tune up for the WHL regular season. The Pats travel to Kindersley Friday evening to take on the Swift Current Broncos. Currently, the Pats have 29 names on the roster, including injured players and those attending NHL training camps. Regina sports a 3-2 record on the preseason circuit, following a 4-1 loss in Medicine Hat Sunday evening. The loss continues Regina’s recent string of futility against the Tigers, including last spring’s 4-game sweep in the second round of the WHL playoffs.

The most recent loss to the Tigers also created some concerns among the members of the Pats brain trust. "Some of our veteran guys need to understand they're competing for jobs," Pats General Manager Brent Parker told the Regina Leader-Post. "Our young guys who think they're in a good position need to understand they're competing for jobs and they need to learn how hard you have to play in this league every night. It can't be a sometimes thing, it has to be all the time. I don't think we had enough guys competing at the level we expect of them and that they should expect of themselves."

The Pats, and their fans, are still waiting to see who will emerge as the top candidates to centre the team’s top two lines. Leading scorers Kyle Ross and Garrett Festerling have moved on, creating a large hole down the middle – literally – of the lineup. Newcomers Matt Strueby and Cody Gross are among the early contenders to replace Ross and Festerling on the first and second lines. Gross leads the team in preseason scoring with 7 points. The speedy centre was acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings; just hours after Edmonton had selected him from Prince Albert in the WHL expansion draft.

“Everyone is making it a really easy adjustment to the city and the team," Gross told the Leader-Post. "The coaches are unbelievable, always positive. They just want to see you do good. It's just a great group of guys. Everyone seems to get along. It should transfer onto the ice as well."

Gross notched six goals and five assists in 55 games as a rookie on the Raiders’ fourth line last season. He realizes he has an opportunity to significantly increase his ice time – and point production – this season. "I see myself being more of an offensive player; hopefully I can provide that. This team looks great - lots of depth up front and especially on the back. I haven't been on a winning team in a few years. I'm looking forward to it."

Returning centre Jared Jagow, who was deployed primarily in a defensive role last season, also is vying for increased ice time. Jagow helped his own cause with a three goal effort in a 4-2 win over Saskatoon Saturday night.

The Pats open the regular season in Prince Albert September 21. Regina’s home opener is September 23, also against the Raiders.

SportZone lineup for September 10

Here's the lineup for this week's show, airing Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 3 p.m. on Access channel 7. On a side note, I've started writing a bi-weekly column/update on the Regina Pats for the CHL Prospects Insider, an e-newsletter sent out to subscribers. If you're interested - it's a free subscription - simply go to the WHL website and click on the "Get the WHL Insider" link near the top-right of the page. Simple as that. Now, here's the lineup for the show:

SportZone Guests for September 10/07
Community Co-Host – Tim Hubic

1. A profile of a former Regina Pats star, now working and coaching at Notre Dame. Guest: Dale Derkatch (Director, Hockey Development – Athol Murray College of Notre Dame).

2. A Regina midget AA hockey team will represent this country at a tournament in Russia next spring. Guests: Don Lindsay (Regina Prairie Nationals Head Coach) & Jeff Herback (Team Chairman).

3. A preview of the 2007/08 Regina High School sports season. Guest: Greg Johnson (RHSAA Commissioner).

4. A profile of the 2007 University of Regina women’s soccer team. Guests: Janeen Snell & Tarina Mayer (Co-Captains).

5. Saskatchewan teams return from the U16 and U19 boy’s lacrosse championships. Guest: Doug Pederson (U16 Head Coach).

6. A preview of the 2007/08 athletics season at the University of Regina. Guest: Dick White (U of R Director of Athletics).

Bombed in the 'Peg

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers crushed the Saskatchewan Roughriders 34-15 in the annual Banjo Bowl contest at Canad Inns Stadium this afternoon. If possible, I think the score may have actually flattered the Riders, who were thoroughly outplayed in this one. And yes, the officiating was brutal, although not sufficiently to affect the final outcome.

The loss snaps the Riders' five game winning streak, and drops their record to 7-3, which is still good enough for first place in the overall standings.

No question, Winnipeg came to play, and the Bombers exploited Rider weaknesses on both sides of the ball. To wit:

1. Sean Lucas - The Riders linebacker has looked lost for three straight games. A change is in order.
2. For the second week in a row, the Riders were unable to get any sort of pressure on Bombers pivot Kevin Glenn. When the Riders blitzed, the Bombers did a stellar job of picking up the extra pass rushers, and Glenn unloaded the ball to ridiculously wide-open receivers.
3. The Riders offensive line was manhandled in this game. Simple as that. Pass protection was brutal, and the running game was an afterthought.
4. The officiating cost the Riders at least four big plays, including a long throw to Andy Fantuz late in the 2nd quarter that may have changed the complexion, if not the outcome, of the game. The play was ruled an incomplete pass, rather than a reception and fumble - which was recovered by Fantuz. After that, the rout was on.

Now comes a big test. The really good teams learn from losses like this, and rebound quickly. Hopefully that's what happens with the green and white, as they travel to Calgary next Saturday to take on the resurgent Stampeders.

No Maas! No Maas!

Thanks to former boxer Roberto Duran for providing today's headline. So, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are pinning their hopes on Casey Printers to lead them out of the CFL wilderness. The hapless Cats have signed the former league Most Outstanding Player to a three year deal, worth a reported $500,000 per season. That, I suspect, leaves Jason Maas as the odd man out in the Tabbies quarterback rotation. Although, based on Timmy Chang's "performance" last week, the Cats may keep Maas around as the back-up, and bump Chang back down to 3rd string status.

So, now Hamilton boasts an elite quarterback (Printers), running back (Jesse Lumsden) and linebacker (Zeke Moreno). One question - who is Printers expected to throw the ball to? With all due respect to U of R Rams alumnus Chris Bauman, Hamilton's receiving corps doesn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of too many CFL defensive coordinators!

A Labour Day thriller

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers put on quite on a show at Mosaic Stadium this afternoon, with the Riders rallying to notch a 31-26 victory. A full house of Saskatchewan and Winnipeg fans was treated to a back-and-forth battle between two of the CFL's top teams. With the win the Riders improve to 7-2, and regain sole possession of top spot in the West Division, and in the overall standings.

Quarterback Kerry Joseph was heroic for the winners, passing for 348 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But Joseph saved his best for last, scoring on a 27 yard run with a dozen seconds left in the game to give the green gang the victory. Suffice to say young Jacob was suitably impressed! My little fan(atic) was high-fiving everyone in sight - heck, he even hugged the old man! In public!

Next up, the same two teams do battle next week in Winnipeg. Historically, the rematch hasn't gone particularly well for the Riders. But this is a different team. And in this case, different is good! I'm not sure how this wild ride will finish, but I'm sure enjoying it while it lasts!