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The Regina Pats are back in action, opening their Western Hockey League season on the road with hopes of climbing back into the playoff picture.
Head coach Brad Herauf said the team is ready to take a step forward after two seasons spent near the bottom of the standings. Fifteen players return to the lineup this season, alongside the first and third overall picks in last year’s WHL draft – 15-year-old rookies Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue, who can play 34 games this season.
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Herauf said his goal this year is to be in the playoff conversation by the time the calendar turns.
“I want us to be in a playoff position by the end of November,” Herauf said, “Getting into the playoffs and playing meaningful games down the stretch is the next step for us.”
The Regina Pats have announced their opening-night roster as they get ready to kick off the 2025 WHL season. (Regina Pats/Facebook)
The Pats open their schedule with back-to-back road games, beginning in Swift Current on Friday night and moving to Medicine Hat on Saturday. While Herauf admitted that opening a new season on the road can mean sitting through long ceremonies in other arenas, he said the trip offers a great chance for his players to spend time together.
“I think it’s good to get us on the road, get us away from the rink, start building some bonds and then just go from there,” Herauf said.
Goaltending is another storyline for the Pats as the season begins. Last year’s most valuable player for the Pats, 20-year-old Kelton Pyne, is still recovering from an injury he picked up in training camp, and Herauf said the team will not rush Pyne back into action.
“We just need to make sure Kelton’s built up the right way,” Herauf said. “He kept us in a lot of games last year, and we expect him, as 20-year-old now, to do the same.”
The Pats added goaltender Marek Schlenker to help shoulder that burden while Pyne works his way back. Herauf called the move an “insurance policy” to give the team some stability in the early part of the season.
Herauf pointed to the experience gained by his returning players and the addition of younger talent as reasons for optimism. While the ultimate goal is a championship, he said the team is focused on progressing in stages.
“Everyone plays to win a championship, but we need to do it in steps,” Herauf said. “The biggest step right now is making the playoffs and being part of that conversation.”
The Pats will return to Regina after their opening road trip, with fans getting their first chance to see the team at home on Wednesday when they take on the Prince Albert Raiders at the Brandt Centre.
