CALGARY — The Regina Pat Canadians will be playing in the championship round at the Circle K Classic, and if things go according to plan for Prairie Hockey Academy on the final day of seeding round play on Monday, they’ll be joining them.
The Pat Canadians defeated Burnaby Winter Club (CSSHL) 5-1 for their second win of the preliminary round, and as a result can finish no lower than second in their pool, locking down a spot in the championship round.
Prairie Hockey Academy took a 7-3 win over the Red Deer Chiefs (AEHL) for their first win and with a victory in their final seeding game can land in the top two and also play for the Circle K Classic title.
The news wasn’t as good for the Moose Jaw Warriors and Warman Wildcats, as neither club was able to win in regulation and will play in the consolation draws.
Moose Jaw took a 3-2 shootout win over the Calgary Buffaloes (AEHL) and can finish no better than third in their pool, while Warman fell 5-2 to Edge School and will also take the ice in a consolation round.
The 32-team tournament features teams from throughout North America and is one of the most heavily scouted events of its kind, featuring hundreds of elite prospects.
Regina 5, Burnaby 1
It was another comfortable win for the defending Telus Cup champions, with a three-goal second period helping Regina clinch a spot in the championship round.
Liam Pue led the Pat Canadians offence, scoring the lone goal of the first period, adding another in the second and finishing with four points through the opening two frames.
Nathan Gardiner had Regina’s other goals in the second period as they built a 4-1 lead.
Logan Lepinski snapped Ben Meyer’s shutout bid 4:14 into the third period, but that’s as close as Burnaby would get, with Grady Hodgins scoring with 5:12 remaining in the game to put things away.
Maddox Schultz added three assists for the Pat Canadians.
Meyer capped his night with 21 saves, James Fitzpatrick stopped 16 for Burnaby.
With a championship round spot locked up, Regina (2-0-0-0) will look to cap the seeding round with a perfect record when they play the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers (1-0-0-1) at 2:15 p.m. on Monday.
Prairie Hockey 7, Red Deer 3
Prairie Hockey Academy didn’t get off to the best of starts, but once they found their groove in the second period, it was all systems go — to the tune of six goals and a 6-1 lead heading into the third period.
Brock Dingman scored the only goal of the first period to give Red Deer a 1-0 lead, but four goals in the first 7:12 of the second frame would give PHA control of the contest.
Easton Nafziger got things started only 48 seconds into the period before Tristan Hoko, Grant Gilege and Grayden Solodan scored to make it a 4-1 Prairie Hockey lead. Lincoln Eaves and Trey Bohlken scored power play markers a minute apart later in the period, and PHA had their five-goal edge coming home.
George Monaghan and Jacob Antsey got two back for Red Deer in the third, but Bohlken would pick up his second of the game with 44 seconds remaining to cap scoring.
Bohlken finished with five points in the contest, Nafgizer added three assists to his goal for a four-point outing. Eaves capped his night with a goal and three points.
Remy Martins had 16 saves to earn the win, Grady Gardiner had 16 stops through two period for the Chiefs, Judah Sabasch stopped seven in the third.
Prairie Hockey Academy (1-1-0-0) closes out the seeding round on Monday at 11 a.m. when they face the St. Louis Blues (2-0-0-0) and with a win can advance to the championship pool.
Moose Jaw 3, Buffaloes 2
Maxx Fuessel scored the game-tying goal with 3:15 left in regulation to give Moose Jaw a chance at picking up points, and they’d get the job done in the shootout for their first win of the tournament.
Tobin Schafer scored on the first shot of the shootout, and that would be the only goal scored, with Warriors netminder Kaleb Page stopping all three shooters he faced.
Moose Jaw’s Deklin Larmer opened scoring 4:17 into the first period, but the lead would last the frame, as Chace Turchak replied for Calgary with 7:50 to play.
Euan Wood then gave the Buffaloes the lead 8:58 into the third, setting the stage for Fuessel’s late-game heroics.
Page had a quiet night facing only 12 shots total, while the Warriors had 41 on Calgary’s Kellen Salter, including 18 in the third period alone.
Moose Jaw (0-1-1-0) will decide their consolation draw spot when they face Team Illinois on Monday at 1:45 p.m.
Edge School 5, Warman 2
The Wildcats didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, giving up a pair of goals in the first period and trailing 2-0 after the opening frame.
Eric Wagman got Edge on the board with 6:23 remaining in the first, and Antonio Cazac scored their second marker with 2:27 left in the period.
Charlie Tobin increased the lead to three goals midway through the second period, but Warman’s Sam Failler would get one back with 55 seconds remaining to make it a two-goal game coming home.
Failler picked up his second of the contest 4:51 into the third to make things interesting, but Eric Wagman replied for Edge just over three minutes later and Luke Jamison closed out scoring with 5:49 left in the game.
Jacob Appelby had 24 saves for Warman, Lane Bullee turned aside 17 for Edge.
Warman (0-1-0-1) finishes their seeding round on Monday when they face the Sioux Falls Power (0-2-0-0), with puck drop at 7:15 p.m.
