The Regina Pats have clinched first place in the WHL's East Division, thanks to a 5-4 win in Moose Jaw last night. It's the first division crown for the Pats in exactly ten years. Regina still has a remote chance of catching Calgary for top spot in the conference. The Pats trail the Hitmen by three points, with two games remaining for each team.
I've done an awful job of posting these, but below is my column from this week's edition of the CHL Insider newsletter:
Pats Roar Back to Life on Home Ice
The Regina Pats are firing on all cylinders, after sweeping a just-completed five game home stand. The winning streak erased memories of a six game road trip that saw the Pats only win twice. Since returning to home ice, the confidence level has risen throughout the organization.
Pats 20-year old forward J.D. Watt is accustomed to the pressure-packed atmosphere at this time of year, after playing in two Memorial Cups with the Vancouver Giants. Watt told 620 CKRM radio’s Rod Pedersen what he believes is the key to continued success, and what he sees as his role in an extended (hopefully) playoff run. “Our team identity has to be as a real physical team, and tough to play against. If there’s one thing I can do for these guys, it’s play that way. Leadership isn’t necessarily talking; it’s what you do on the ice and leading by example. If I can go out there and finish every check, play physical and throw pucks on net – then I think a lot of young guys will follow. If our team plays physical, we’ll be tough to beat.”
For an example, the Pats need look no further than their most recent victory, a 4-2 Saturday night win over Prince Albert. Regina (unofficially) out-hit the Raiders 41-17 in that contest. Watt believes that commitment to the less-glamorous on-ice tasks will serve his team well in the long run. “It’s always tough to play that way, but if you want to win games, whatever style you play, to win you have to do things that are hard to do and aren’t fun. The joy of that is afterwards when you’re won. It’s tough to play like that, but it’s fun to win. We know if we do that we can win.”
Watt is one of three 20-year old players the Pats acquired this season to contribute veteran leadership and solid two-way play. He understands the overage trio will be counted on to lead their younger teammates through the battles that lie ahead. “You always look at your 20-year old players this time of year. Tim Kraus has been there with me at the Memorial Cups (with Vancouver) and has been through the wars. He’s a playoff player. And I’m really glad to be on a team with Ryan Bender because he’s a real tough, solid defensive defenceman. It’s our last year and we all want to win real bad. It’s our last chance.”
Regina enters the final three games of the regular season needing just one win to clinch the organization’s first East Division championship since 1998. The pennant–clinching victory could come as early as Wednesday night in Moose Jaw.
"We should be a confident group heading into Moose Jaw," Pats head coach Curtis Hunt opined to the Regina Leader-Post. "It's exciting to come to the rink. It's exciting to follow the other teams and see where you're at. The greatest thing about it is we've maintained that position in the driver's seat. We're in control of our own fate. Let's take advantage of that."
"Ever since the start of the season, one of our goals was to bring a banner to the roof," Pats sniper Jordan Eberle told the Leader-Post. "Now that we can kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel, it brings motivation and excitement to the whole team. You can't always be perfect, but we just want to come out every game and play our best. The last five games, five wins, that's pretty close to perfect."
Following the game in Moose Jaw, Regina wraps up the regular season with a home-and-home series against the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Pats are at home Friday night, and then conclude the 2007/08 campaign in Brandon Saturday.
2 comments:
Hi - Ho Pete!
I've been sitting in the weeds watching this all unfold. The pennant is good for an extra home game, and maybe that's what it will take.
The division or conference champs win a dubious reward. They get to face Brandon, SC, or MJ in the first round. It has been well documented that four real good teams will be gone after the first round. It is highly unusual that the conference has eight teams seperated by razor thin margins. I see every series going 6 or 7 games in every round. The winner may be by attrition.
The Pats are a big team so they may be able to withstand longer, gruelling series. Ultimately it will likely boil down to how well Rowatt plays. If he gets into a zone we have a real good shot at advancing far. It is unfortunate that that type of pressure has to go on him, but that's what winning teams need to survive. He has to "man up" as they say. Lets hope we are playing well into April. Take care man.
old fan
I agree, Rosie is the key - expecially against teams the Pats are evenly matched against. I think they've got enough to get past Swift Current without too much trouble (5 games), but then the sledding gets much, much tougher.
Scary thought - if Brandon is this tough this year, what are they gonna be like in two years?
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