After a challenging and winless journey south of the border, the Regina Pats have returned to a snowy Saskatchewan, ready to reset on home ice. The Western Hockey League (WHL) club concluded a difficult six-game road trip through the United States without securing a victory, bringing their season record to 9-15-3.
A Tough Stretch on American Ice
The team's annual U.S. excursion, necessitated by the Canadian Western Agribition occupying the Brandt Centre, proved to be a stern test. The trip began with two narrow defeats: a 3-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs on November 19th, followed by a 2-1 setback against the Tri-City Americans on November 21st.
The struggles continued as the trip wore on. Regina fell 5-3 to the Seattle Thunderbirds on November 22nd, then suffered an 8-3 defeat to the Everett Silvertips last Wednesday. The Pats closed out the disappointing swing with a 7-2 loss to the Portland Winterhawks on Friday and a 6-1 loss to the Wenatchee Wild on Saturday.
Playoff Picture and Immediate Challenges
Despite the six consecutive losses, the Pats remain in the postseason conversation. With 21 points so far this season, Regina is currently tied with the Red Deer Rebels for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WHL's Eastern Conference. They also sit just two points behind their next opponent, the Brandon Wheat Kings, who hold seventh place, though both rival teams have games in hand.
The Pats have little time to dwell on the past, as they face a quick turnaround. They host the Brandon Wheat Kings (11-11-1) this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Brandt Centre. This will be followed by a road game against the Saskatoon Blades (14-11-2) on Sunday at 4 p.m. Regina holds a 1-1-1 record against Brandon this season but has yet to face the Blades.
Bright Spots in the Lineup
Amid the team's struggles, several individual players continued to produce offensively during the road trip. Leading the charge was 19-year-old forward Keets Fawcett, who scored four goals on the trip. He now leads the Pats in scoring with 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points in just 24 games. Fawcett is now just one goal away from matching his career-high of 19, set with the Calgary Hitmen in the 2023-24 season.
Close behind is 20-year-old forward Caden Brown, who netted three goals during the U.S. swing. Brown is second on the team with 18 goals and 9 assists for 27 points in 25 contests, already matching the career-high goal total he set in 2022-23 with the Prince George Cougars.
Rounding out the top three is Julien Maze, who has compiled 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 27 games. The forward, who turns 18 this Sunday, is also one goal away from tying his personal best of 12, achieved last season split between Regina and Everett.
The team will be looking to these offensive leaders to help spark a turnaround as they defend home ice this weekend, aiming to climb the Eastern Conference standings and solidify their playoff positioning.
