It was a back and forth start for the Regina Pats in Brandon, but in the end, the scales tipped in favour for the Pats with a 7-6 OT win over the Wheat Kings.
Brandon stormed out of the gates on home ice, jumping out to a 3-0 lead.
Before the end of the first period, Matteo Michaels and Parker Berge cut the deficit back down to one.
Micheals tied the game for the Pats in the second period with a shorthanded goal.
Dominik Petr responded putting Brandon ahead before Regina replied with Layton Feist tying the game.
Ty Spencer gave the Pats the 5-4 lead with 11 seconds left in the period
Brandon regained the lead with two goals in 1:42 in the early stages of the third period.
Pats rookie and Brandon product Cole Temple scored his first WHL goal on the powerplay midway through the third period, tying the game at 6-6.
Neither team would answer in the final half of the period as the game was forced into overtime.
Braxton Whitehead scored the game winner 47 seconds on a one-time pass from Tanner Howe.
Ewan Huet picked up his first WHL win making 18 saves.
Caleb Hadland, Rylen Roersma, Roger McQueen, Petr, Luke Shipley and Hayden Wheddon scored for Brandon.
Regina outshot Brandon 37-24, with both teams going 2/4 on the powerplay.
Assistant Coach Ken Schneider was happy to be on the winning side of a wild game, especially with the Pats scoring seven goals after struggling in the preseason.
“We had contributions from a lot of different guys.”
Schneider believes Temple’s first WHL goal can be a big boost for the 16-year-old.
“I think he’s starting to gain some confidence, so that’ll make a big difference for his game going forward. “
The Pats assistant coach was pleased with the way his team battled back from a 3-0 hole in the first period.
“We didn’t stop, we just kept playing the game that we knew we had to play, we had to play hard and play physical. “
On Saturday, Regina will hold their home opener at the Brandt Centre when they host the Saskatoon Blades.
Coverage begins at 6:35 on 620 CKRM, Dante De Caria will have the opening faceoff at 7:00.
