The Regina Pats are in a battle to secure the last playoff spot in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference. The team has not made the playoffs for the last two seasons.
"The biggest thing is that every game is meaningful. We haven't been in this spot in the last two years because of the route we decided to go with the rebuild. To us, it was about playing meaningful games down the stretch, getting into the playoffs, getting playoff experience," head coach Brad Herauf said on the SportsCage.
"Those things are all really valuable to these kids, win, lose, or draw when you get in. It's that daily grind and focus that you really get to learn when you get to play these kinds of games all the way through the season. For us, where we are in the standings, every game is going to be a playoff game. It's going to be a valuable learning experience for all of us in the future."
Connor Bedard was with the Pats when the team last reached the playoffs in 2023, Regina lost to the Saskatoon Blades in a seven-game series. This year, the team has two 15-year-olds in Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue. Herauf shares his thought process of having them on the same line.
"I don't think it's rocket science, but I'm the lucky one who gets to be around them in the rink all the time and see what they do. I've known Maddox because he's a local kid. My son's the same age as him, so I've known him since he was young. He's always risen to the occasion. He's always kept on getting better and better. This year's a little bit of a unique development year for him, with the yo-yo back and forth of the Pat Canadians," Herauf said.
"For both of the kids, not just Maddox, but for both of them, it's about getting experience. We had them split up at the start of that game, and Liam was one that really popped off to me. He was playing so well. I know they play well together, and for us, it's easier to use them together when they're in and out of our lineup. The feel you have on the bench, what you see with them daily in practice, and getting to know what they're capable of."
This season, both Schultz and Pue are only allowed to play 34 games with the Pats under the Western Canadian Development Model because they are 15 years old. Schultz has played 18 games so far, registering three goals and eight assists. Meanwhile, Pue has played 23 games, scoring five goals and recording seven assists.
The Pats lost to the Saskatoon Blades 4-3 in overtime on Friday night. Regina's next game will be on Saturday against the Calgary Hitmen as the team hosts Indigenous celebration night.
"We've had it going for a couple of years now. I've been a part of it. It's such an important event to bring some new people into the building and to get some other people having good conversations, starting conversations with each other. The real cool thing is we've had Connor Bear be a part of the jersey designing a little bit last year. I know he had a bigger hand in it this year. I know he's extremely proud of his heritage," Herauf said.
"To see him be able to do something outside of hockey, tied in with hockey still, but I think get himself in the art world, and who knows, maybe he'll be a future clothing designer. That little collaboration between him and the artists is really cool, I know it's something that Connor is really proud of to be a part of."
Dante De Caria hosts the pre-game show at 5:30 p.m. with puck drop at 6 p.m. You can catch all the action on 620 CKRM.
