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It was a rivalry renewed in Regina on Sunday as the Saskatoon Blades defeated the host Pats 6-3 in the clubs’ first meeting of the 2020-21 WHL season.
Normally the rivalry between the two clubs, who are only separated by a two-hour drive along Highway 11, would have fans in the stands cheering and booing, hoping their team bests the rival.
“It’s pretty weird not having anyone in the stands. We really make our own energy and we were really loud out there tonight and we were kind of feeding off each other,” said Blades forward Blake Stevenson, who had two goals — including the game-winner.
After one period of play, sparks started to fly between the rivals in the East Division bubble at the Brandt Centre.
A scrum in front of Blades goaltender Nolan Maier saw a lot of pushing and shoving, with Pats forward Cole Dubinsky leaving the fray without his helmet.
A few moments later, another shoving contest was started in front of Pats goaltender Roddy Ross, which lead to roughing penalties for the Blades’ Caiden Daley and the Pats’ Kyle Walker and Zack Smith.
Pats head coach Dave Struch says the loss falls directly on the Pats, saying they lost focus during the game.
“Our focus during the past five (or) six months has been learning, hockey IQ and playing without the puck. We were too focused (Sunday) on the other team’s individuals chirping and pressure on us. Our reaction to it wasn’t the right way,” Struch said. “In the third period, we lost our focus for two shifts and it cost us.”
It was another slow start for Ross, who conceded a goal to Blades forward Evan Patrician just 56 seconds into the game. Saskatoon captain Chase Wouters and Stevenson scored 42 seconds apart later in the period as Saskatoon took a 3-1 lead.
The Pats’ lone goal in the first came from forward Carson Denomie, who fired a wristshot past Maier on the power play.
In the second period, the Pats battled back and Denomie scored his second goal of the night after a feed from rookie forward Connor Bedard.
In the third period, Bedard gathered the puck on the power play in the Saskatoon zone and fired a wristshot top corner past Maier to tie the game.
But under a minute later, Stevenson scored his second of the game. Then, 14 seconds after that, Alex Morozoff potted his first goal of the season for the Blades.
Saskatoon’s Tristen Robins scored on the power play a little later in the period to put the Pats away.
After the game, Ross said he needs to be better.
“I need to help my guys out. I just need to battle a lot more so I can just battle for the win. I feel like I need to do better on the back end just to help these guys out so we can pull things through,” Ross said.
The Pats fell to 0-2 while the Blades become the first team to go 2-0 in the WHL hub.
Regina is to meet the Moose Jaw Warriors on Tuesday. The Blades are to face the Winnipeg Ice on Wednesday.
With the East Division only comprising seven teams, Blades head coach Mitch Love expects things to get more heated between the clubs as the season progresses.
“We’ve seen it in the NHL with the way they’re playing and there seems to be a lot more physicality and storylines and drama when you play a team time and time again. When you’re playing such a condensed schedule, guys get a little bit tired and you get in each other’s grill a little bit,” Love said.