What an NCAA rule change might mean for junior hockey in Sask.
Nov 18, 2024
Previously, WHL players were declared ineligible to play NCAA hockey in the U.S.
The Regina Pats couldn’t keep pace with the WHL’s top team, losing 7-0 to the Winnipeg Ice on Friday.
“It’s just something you’ve got to file away and just keep on moving on. Our mission is the playoffs,” said Pats acting head coach Brad Herauf. “There’s no point in revisiting this. They are one of the best teams in the country for a reason.”
The Pats (24-32-3-2) are in the middle of a heated race for the final spot in the WHL’s Eastern Conference playoffs and are trying to make up some ground on the Swift Current Broncos (28-30-3-1) and Lethbridge Hurricanes (28-30-3-1).
The Pats were looking to build off the momentum from Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Saskatoon Blades.
Meanwhile, the Ice is the cream of the crop when it comes to WHL clubs this season. Winnipeg has now won 13 straight and on Friday recorded a WHL-high 11th shutout. The Ice has won 49 games this season and sits atop the WHL standings with 103 points.
While it was a tough outing for the Pats, Herauf is confident they can put the loss behind them quickly with a showdown in Prince Albert against the Raiders on Saturday.
“I think our team is pretty focused on what we are trying to accomplish here and they know that playoffs was the goal,” Herauf said. “We just had those breakdowns. I don’t think it was at all on our goaltending tonight. I think our goalie was really good. I think the goals he did let in, they were good goals.”
“That wasn’t the effort we wanted,” said Pats forward and captain Logan Nijhoff. “Prince Albert is a team we are fighting with for a playoff spot so a quick turnaround is going to be good.
“We were not ready to play tonight so we have to throw it out and focus for (Saturday).”
The Ice jumped on the Pats quickly, with forward Zachary Benson putting a puck past Pats goaltender Drew Sim just 2:21 into the game. Forwards Matthew Savoie and Alessandro Segafredo also added opening-frame goals at the Brandt Centre in front of 5,071 fans.
In the second period, Ice forwards Conor Geekie and Connor McClennon added goals.
Regina elected to make a change heading into the third period, turning to Spencer Welke in net.
But Winnipeg would continue to buzz, with defenceman Jonas Woo scoring his first WHL goal before Savoie added his second of the night.
Ice goaltender Daniel Hauser stopped all 17 shots he faced.
The Pats now find themselves six points behind the Broncos and seven behind the Hurricanes.