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The Regina Pat Canadians are looking to make it back-to-back titles.
The Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League team is currently in the middle of its playoff run. They swept the Saskatoon Contacts in the opening round of the playoffs and currently hold 1-0 series lead over the Estevan Innovex Bears. Game 2 is Friday at 7 p.m. in Estevan.
After winning both the league title and Telus Cup — the national U18 AAA hockey championship — last season, the team dealt with a lot of turnover and now features 15 first-time members.
But that didn’t stop the Pat Canadians from dominating much of the regular season, finishing at the top of the standings, finishing with a 38-3-3-0 record.
“We had a big turnover and we talked about this before — it’s a good thing. A big turnover means guys are moving on and so forth. We have a solid group of guys and a group that likes to compete and have some fun,” said Pat Canadians head coach Ryan Hodgins. “Playoffs are what you play for all year and it’s an exciting time.”
One of the key players to return from last year’s championship team is forward Maddox Schultz. Schultz, who was named the Telus Cup MVP last season as an underage player, was taken first overall by the WHL’s Regina Pats this past offseason. But due to him not applying for exceptional status due to the league’s new Western Canadian Development Model, he is only allowed to play in a certain number of games in the junior hockey league.
With time split between the WHL and SMAAAHL, Schultz has 60 points (30 goals, 30 assists) in just 21 games for the Pat Canadians.
This year, Schultz is joined by another highly touted Pats prospect as Liam Pue, the third overall pick in the WHL Draft, is also playing with the Pat Canadians this season. He has 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists) with the Pat Canadians.
“Those are special players so any time they are in your line up, they add to it,” Hodgins said. “They are great kids too so the just fit in with our group really well.”
With the two players jumping between the two leagues, Hodgins admits its been a different kind of year.
“This is the first year this has been done so there’s no blueprint. Together, with the Pats, I think it’s been successful,” Hodgins said. “(The players) have done a good job navigating through it and both programs have been pretty cognizant of their rest and so forth and making sure they are healthy.”
With the Regina Pats inching closer to clinching a spot in the playoffs as well, Hodgins said there is a plan for the two young stars.
“The plan is flexible and nothing is set in stone. We don’t really talk about how long the plan is for and so forth because it has to be flexible for both programs,” Hodgins said.
With those two gone for stretches in the season, a number of members of the Pat Canadians have been able to contribute in big ways to claim the top spot in the standings.
One of those players is first-year Pat Canadian Malakai Martin. Martin, who spent last season with Regina Vics in AA hockey last season, has 78 points (37 goals, 41 assists) in 44 games this season.
“I’ve watched (Martin) and coached him off and on throughout minor hockey and is a heck of a hockey player. This year, he has really taken off and he’s done a great job,” Hodgins said.
So while plenty of faces are new for the team, Hodgins said there is a common thread between this group and last year’s.
“The thing we do have in common is our compete. These guys like to work hard and they come to the rink ready to work and that’s just how we do things,” Hodgins said.
Regina is playing host to the Telus Cup West Regionals this season so they already have a spot claimed in that tournament as the hosts.
