There were a lot of bittersweet emotions at the Brandt Centre on Sunday.
The Regina Pats beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 7-4 to end their season as they did not qualify for the playoffs.
Connor Bedard entertained the fans one last time for the 2021-22 season as he picked up two goals and added three assists to finish off the season with 51 goals and 100 points. Bedard becomes the youngest player ever to record 50 goals in the Western Hockey League.
The Pats three 20 year old players suited up for Regina for the final time on Sunday. Logan Nijhoff, Neithan Salame and Ryker Evans were honoured by the club as they chosen as the three stars of game.
Nijhoff capped off his final season with the Pats by picking up his 25th goal of the season. Cole Dubinsky scored a pair of goals to reach the 20 goal mark. Tanner Howe and Zane Rowan also scored in the Pats victory.
Kelton Pyne made 20 saves to earn the victory for Regina.
Evans still could not believe Pats had come to an end after the game. “Everybody says it flies by, and they’re 100 percent correct, you got to kind of look back at it and enjoy those memories, I’m still kind of in shock, and I can’t believe it’s all over.”
Looking back at his final season with the Pats, Evans says a highlight for himself was providing leadership inside of the Pats dressing room. “Just being that leader on and off the ice, that those young guys can look up to, it obviously transferred on to the ice, as an older guy in this league I had a lot of confidence, it was just an easy transition.”
The first round matchups are now set in the WHL’s Eastern Conference
1. Winnipeg vs 8. Prince Albert
2. Edmonton vs 7. Lethbridge
3. Red Deer vs 6. Brandon
4. Moose Jaw vs 5. Saskatoon
