Regina Pats looking to build a winner

By Greg Harder, Leader-Post May 4, 2011 9:19 AM Be the first to post a comment

Regina Pats GM Chad Lang.Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post filesThe restoration of the once-proud Regina Pats could hinge on their ability to take a complement.

Although the Pats believe the foundation of their rebuilding process begins with the players selected in last year's bantam draft, it's imperative that they follow up with additional building blocks via the 2011 draft, which takes place Thursday in Calgary.

If all goes according to plan, the new players will complement the likes of Morgan Klimchuk and Kyle Burroughs, the top two picks from the Class of 2010, thus providing continuity and minimizing gaps in the depth chart as Regina looks to build a consistent winner.

"It's really important (to have another strong draft)," offered GM Chad Lang, who was hired last summer and is overseeing his first bantam draft with the Pats. "If you want to maintain a consistency and be competitive year in and year out with the amount of parity in the league, you have to build from within and that begins with the draft.

"I know they had a real strong draft last year and we're hoping we can mirror that this year and bring in quality players - not only quality players but quality individuals. In order for an organization to be successful you need to have both."