Pats go winless in Edmonton (St. Albert)

From Greg Harder's Slap Shots....

Pats winless in Edmonton

By Greg Harder Sun, Aug 30 2009 COMMENTS(0) Slap Shots
Leader-Post staff

The Regina Pats returned home as the lone winless club in a six-team field at the Edmonton Oil Kings pre-season invitational tournament in St. Albert, Alta.
Regina wrapped up the three-day event on Sunday by dropping an 8-7 shootout decision to the Swift Current Broncos. That contest was preceded by a 4-3 setback against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday and a 4-0 loss to the host Oil Kings on Friday.
In the final analysis, head coach Curtis Hunt said the Pats “got what we deserved.”
“The end result out of these three games is what it should be based on the entire package,” said Hunt, who nonetheless felt his team improved each game. “We’re starting to see the make-up of what we believe can be a good hard-working well-rounded hockey club. There’s lots of holes. It’s easy to pick the holes but we’re striving to see the improvements right now. Our third game was by far our best game in terms of work ethic, but obviously the defensive side of things has to improve.”
Regina played catchup for most of Sunday’s contest as the Broncos opened up two-goal leads on five different occasions. The Pats sent the game into overtime with late goals by Matt Strueby and Michal Poletin. After a scoreless overtime session, Justin Dowling potted the winner in the shootout.
Poletin finished the night with two goals and one assist, plus another goal in the shootout. Strueby, Jordan Weal and Graham Hood each had a goal and an assist. Tomas Hricina and Andrew Rieder had the other goals.
Starting goalie Derek Tendler allowed five goals on 14 shots while Dawson Guhle stopped 11 of 13 in relief before allowing two goals on three chances in the shootout.
Jordan Peddle scored twice for the Broncos, who got singles from Mike Brown, Jordan Evans, Eric Doyle, Dowling and Dillon Wagner. Goalie Chad Ketting allowed four goals on 19 shots before Alexandre Sirard stopped 12 of 15, plus two of three in the shootout.
“We’re looking for that consistent 60-minute effort,” said Hunt. “That was something we did have tonight. We didn’t quit. We were down two goals numerous times. We pushed the pace through the extra session and their goaltender was excellent. In my mind we probably deserved a win because of the territory and the scoring chances. (They didn't get it) but it was a good first step.”
On Saturday, Regina took a 3-2 lead into the third period against Medicine but gave up two unanswered markers in the final frame.
Defenceman Alex Pym had a goal and an assist for the Pats, who also got goals from Poletin and Hricina. Guhle, who signed with Regina on Friday, stopped 11 of 12 shots. Veteran Linden Rowat allowed three goals on eight shots in relief.
Emerson Etem scored twice for the Tigers, who were outshot 30-20. Mike Forsyth and Kale Kessey added singles.
Regina’s next pre-season action is Friday in Brandon against the Wheat Kings. Brandon visits the Brandt Centre on Sept. 9 for the Pats’ exhibition home-opener.