Pats Double Up Canes' 4-2

REGINA, SK. - Two goals by Jordan Weal helped the Pats to a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes last night.

A decent first period for the Hurricanes last night. After the Pats opened the scoring at the 12:03 mark when Jordan Weal scored his 32nd of the year, the Canes' stormed back with a pair of late goals lead by Carter Bancks. The Lethbridge Captain scored a power play goal with just over two minutes to go in the first period and then in the final minute Bancks took a pass from Mitch Maxwell on a 2 on 1 rush and fired the puck in pretty much the same spot as he did when he scored a bit earlier. The Canes' really rallied in the final seven or so minutes as they ended up out shooting the Pats 14-10 after 20 minutes.

In the second, the Pats would come out firing. The home team would even the score at two when former Cane' Carter Ashton scored on a power play. It looked like that's the way the period might end until Jordan Weal broke into the Canes' zone and fired a shot off the post and behind Linden Rowat for his second of the night. That goal gave the Pats a one goal lead again and a big goal too late in the period. Regina out shot Lethbridge 17-5 in the second and 27-19 overall after 40 minutes.

In the third, a bit of a slow start for both teams actually. No shots were registered through the first five minutes, but the Pats got a big insurance goal by Tyler Parker, his first goal of the season to put Regina up 4-2. The Canes' were unable to get the puck passed Dawson Guhle and the Pats cruised to a the win. It was a well officiated game too I thought. Only a couple of penalties in this one. The Canes' finished the night 1/3 on the power play while the Pats went 1/2. Lethbridge played a fairly disciplined game overall. The Hurricanes have four games left in t

Hurricanes prospect Taylor Balog was expected to play against Regina last night, but he instead he watched from the stands. Head Coach/GM Rich Preston told our CJOC pre-game show from Regina that Balog would only factor in if Cam Braes couldn't go. Braes was injured earlier this week in the loss to Moose Jaw. Braes was given the green light and played last night. Balog did practice with the Hurricanes on Thursday at the Brandt Centre. Preston also told me that with Balog's size and skill, he has a very good chance at making this Lethbridge Hurricanes team in the fall. Max Ross, who's been out three months with a broken leg took the pre-game skate last night in Regina, but did not play. There's a good chance he could get cleared to play in the Hurricanes final two games against Medicine Hat next weekend.

A Chat With Jordan Eberle

I had the pleasure to interview one of the most talked about up and coming NHLers last night. Jordan Eberle's junior career with the Regina Pats will end when the regular season is over next weekend. I joked with him that this was probably the 10,oooth interview he had done with the media this year. He smiled and said, "pretty close!". I can tell you this much though. He's one of the nicest, most humble young men you'll ever come across. The media is after Eberle everywhere he goes these days as people want a piece of the soon-to-be NHL star. The Edmonton Oilers 2008 first round draft pick told me he hopes to play a few games in Springfield once the Pats are done. He also said the highlight of his junior career was winning a gold medal for Team Canada at the World Juniors in Ottawa in 2008/2009.

Next Up

The Hurricanes have four games to go before they wrap of their season. Tonight the Canes' will head back west and stop in Moose Jaw to take on the Warriors for the final team this year. The Warriors shut out the Hurricanes 4-0 back in Lethbridge earlier this week. Game time from the Crushed Can is 6pm (MT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.

Thanks,
Pat