Prairie Storm sweeps Blues out of playoffs

Regina, SK - Sadly one of the best games the Pat Blues played also turned out to be their last playoff game of the year.  It took 5 periods of exciting hockey for the Prairie Storm to defeat the Pat Blues 4-3 and advance to the Southern division final in Bantam AA action.  All 3 of the Pat Blue goals came in the second period and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fine play of goaltender Blake Diewold. Some props have to also go out to the five Pat Blue defenseman:  Michael Puglia, Noah Kozack, Alex Kannok, Adam Probie, and Donavon Beatty.  Thye all logged some serious minutes and their efforts kept this game close.  You never know there may be one or two more posts on the blog throughout the Spring but this will pretty much do it.  Thanks to the entire team for providing some great games and entertainment and a few laughs throughout the year and best of luck to all players next year, wherever they play!  

Piller Past Post! Prairie Storm opens series up with 7-2 victory

Balgonie -  I took a page out of Roberto Luongo's playbook yesterday by "pumping the tires" of PS forward Jacob Piller and look at the result.  His power play goal gets featured on the blog tonight and it's a beauty.  Jacob sneaks down from the point and goes 5 hole to beat Pat Blues 'tender Blake Diewold.  This was the 6th Prairie Storm goal and they went on to win this game 7-2 at the Stardome in Balgonie, SK.  Both Pat Blue goals were scored by Dean Mason.  I'm not sure how many goals were scored on the power play tonight but if you want to have a chance against this team, you've got to stay out of the penalty box.  The Pat Blues will be looking to tie the series up on Saturday night in the friendly confines of the Co-operator centre.  Note to PS - please leave that air horn in Balgonie!
 

Playoff Preview: Storm Vs. Pat Blues

Regina, SK -  Funny sometimes how talent skips a generation.  I was never able to get beyond house league as a youth hockey player, while every fall Sean was always scooped up pretty quick in the annual draft. Much tougher league back then, however, with no face masks, no mouth guards, no composite sticks and no blogs!  This got me thinking of a young back-up goalie in the '70's from Saskatchewan; Dean Piller.  When you contrast Dean's minor hockey career with son Jacob there really is no comparison.  As a Bantam rookie, Jacob tied for 5th in team scoring with a very impressive 22 points, which includes 10 goals.  Dean once lasted 22 minutes, his personal record, before being pulled from the cage.  No doubt Dean will be at the game tomorrow in Balgonie where he's since become one of the best 50/50 salesmen in the entire province so it all evens out in the end. Be sure to get your tickets early as that pot promises to be a big one!  The playoffs continue tomorrow night with the first game in a highly anticipated playoff series against the Prairie Storm!

Diewold Dynasty clips Wings!!

BREAKING NEWS - Pat Blues win 8-7 over Weyburn

Pat Blues face Prairie Storm in 2nd round

In a surprise turn of events, rookie goaltender Blake Diewold came off the bench to backstop the Pat Blues to a 8-7 victory over the Weyburn Crescent Point Wings to advance into the second round of the South Sask Bantam playoffs.  Further details to come from Weyburn but my reporter at the game Dmytro Kazymyra said that "this game was a doozy!" 

4 Power Play goals lifts Wings over Pat Blues

Regina, Sk - An injury depleted Pat Blues lineup that was without the services of Jacob Smith, Randen Schmidt, and Sean Dawson was no match for the Weyburn Red Wings who defeated the Pat Blues 4-0 on their home ice.   The Pat Blues had their chances including an extended power play at the end of the 1st period but couldn't get that first goal to jump start their effort.  It's now down to 1 and done in Weyburn on Friday night as the winner of that game will advance in the Bantam AA playoffs.  Here are your game highlights including an interview with Pat Blues rookie Carson Denomie, brought to you by yqrsports.com

Wings clip Pat Blues 7-5

Regina, SK - This game started with all kinds of promise.  Noah Crowley and Matthew Chekay opened up the scoring for the Pat Blues and after 10 minutes the Pat Blues were up 2-0.  Weyburn scored the next 3 and the Pat Blues never led after that point with the final score being 7-5 for the Wings.  Blake Diewold had the start for the Pat Blues and my personal favourite highlight was Blake diving into the bench in the 3rd period in favour of the extra attacker.  Here are your highlights from yqrsports.com:

Olympic Hockey Pool - Get your Tickets!

Be sure to fill out your Olympic Hockey Pools and return to Kevin.  You never know when you'll be lucky enough to win some cash!!!

Pat Blues give up 3 in the 3rd to lose 3-2 to the Northeast Wolfpack

Regina, SK -  Full marks to the NE Wolfpack who played last night in Swift Current, traveled to Regina today and never gave up to steal 2 points from the Regina Pat Blues with 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd period.  Here are your game high lights from our good friends at yqrsports.com:

Sneak Peek: Pat Blues Individual Shots

Regina, SK - The boys on the Pat Blues are getting older and let's face it, there won't be too many more pictures to put up on the old wall of fame in your basement.  I decided to simplify the pictures this year, no templates, no fancy icons, lightning bolts, etc. and focus on the players themselves. There may be some changes to these photos before they go to print but here's what I came up with so far. I hope you enjoy them:  (By the way, I counted 3 spelling errors, can you spot them?

GoPro Video of Pat Blues Picture Day

Picture Day, tomorrow at the Co-Operators!

It's a Double Donavon!

Saskatoon - Good news out of Saskatoon as the Regina Pat Blues have defeated the Saskatoon Maniacs in a late afternoon start in the Bridge City.  Player of the Game Donavon Beatty was awarded the hard hat for his efforts tonight.  I've matched that photo up with a vintage photo of DB taken from his bronze medal victory in the City of Champions Tournament in the mid 2000's.  Let's keep the momentum moving boys and back it up with a victory tomorrow to really put some distance to those chasing the Pat Blues in the standings!

The Fox says "Cheese"

Regina, SK - I may lose a whole legion of followers with this post but I had the pleasure of taking pictures for the Pat Blues arch rival Regina Foxes tonight and what a treat that was.  The entire team was so well organized that the team photo only took about 6 minutes.  Special shout out to Tim Ludwar for the fine job in corralling the young men before the picture.  The Pat Blues will get their chance to be just as impressive when they get their pictures done next week.  Start working on that sick flow boys and take inspiration from the Foxes who had some healthy manes going tonight at the Co-operators!

GoPro Highlights of Pat Blues vs. Estevan

Prairie Storm blasts Pat Blues back to Regina!

Balgonie, SK -  Whenever you face the Prairie Storm at any level you've got to have all cylinders firing for a full 60 minutes.  I walked in to the rink with 10 minutes left in the 3rd with the game tied 3-3 only to have the game end up being 6-3 for the PS Storm.  Just like the Saskatchewan Highway Hotline, you'd best be prepared when you're facing that team.  Singles came from Matthew Chekay & Alex Kanook today.  The Pat Blues end up with 2 out of a possible 4 pts. this weekend as they head back to practice before back to back games in The Bridge City this weekend.  Don't forget to check back on the blog this week for some GoPro footage of the game vs. Estevan.  

Double Dean Celebrations! Pat Blues beat Estevan 5-3

Regina, SK -  Must have been the GoPro at practice to get the Pat Blues firing on all cylinders! Seriously, this was an entertaining game and the result was in doubt up until the final 4 minutes of the 3rd period when Bantam Rookie Dean Mason (pictured below) sealed the game for the Pat Blues. Matthew Chekay, Jordan Kazymyra, & Alex Kanook also added singles.  I've got it on good authority that the hard hat was issued solely for Dean's post goal celebration and it's to be shared with Dean Sr. who was ecstatic with the late period goal!  I've got some video from the game I'll be posting over the next couple of days so keep checking the blog for updates.  The Pat Blues head East on Highway #1 to Balgonie for an afternoon tilt against the always tough Prairie Storm!

Mixing things up to Jump Start the Pat Blues

Regina, SK - I've never really featured a practice on the blog because as weak as an effort this blog is, I've never been so hard up for content that I had to film practice.  I mean, we're talking about practice.  Not the game, not the game, not the game, but practice.   With that in mind, I'm trying something different and making an exception in hopes of jump starting the Pat Blues to get in the win column this weekend.  Take a close look at the video and you'll notice a few things:  #1 - It reminds you that these players are really still kids  #2 - These kids are having fun and #3 - Coach Dave has a few jokers on his team so hats off to the head coach for putting his time in with this squad.  Myrna didn't like my music choice for the video, but I picked it intentionally - listen to your coach because:

                                                              "That's the way it is!"

Blues tie Foxes in last minute with goalie on the bench

Regina, SK -  The Pat Blues got a last minute goal from Carson Denomie off a Donavon Beatty slapshot to tie their arch-rival Foxes 4 - 4 in a spirited match up at the Ritchie.  Had it not been for some solid goaltending from rookie goaltender Blake Diewold (pictured left), the Pats would likely not have left the game with a point.  In particular, credit Blake with killing off a 4 minute power play that featured 2 of those minutes being disadvantaged 5 on 3.  Well done Blake!  Singles for the Pat Blues came from Jordan Kazymyra and Dean Mason.

The financial cost of being a goalie: Bill Lenz appears on CBC Morning Edition

Check out Regina Pat Blue Goalie Parent Bill Lenz as he sheds some light on what it costs to have a son play goalie in Saskatchewan.  Click here or on the CBC Logo to hear Bill being interviewed by the CBC's Eric Anderson on The Morning Edition with Sheila Coles, first broadcast on Monday January 13, 2014.

The Cost Of Playing Goal In Hockey

The Morning Edition's Eric Anderson joins host Sheila Coles to look at how expensive it is to be a hockey goaltender, and how that is impacting the number of Canadian goalies playing at elite levels.

Play Audio Clip

A 'stitch' in time...results in 8 goals?

Humboldt, SK -  I've got very limited information to go on here but sadly the Pat Blues lost 8-4 today in their match at the historic Drake arena in Humboldt, SK.  I did happen to obtain a nice shot of a couple of the Pat Blue Hockey Mom's on the bus early this afternoon, however.  I've gotta admit, this bus trip seems really tame compared to some other ones I've been on in the past but maybe that's a good sign.  The Pat Blues are back in action this Thursday versus those pesky Regina Foxes.  See you at the Al Ritchie!

5 point afternoon for Sando

Saskatoon - When you look at the scoresheet from this afternoons game vs. the Saskatoon Generals under Isaac Sandomirsky you see all kinds of numbers; 5,3,4, and 2.  He was all over the scoresheet getting 2 goals, 3 assist, 4 penalties, and 5 points.  It was nice to see the Pat Blues break out of their scoring slump with 7 markers put on the board including the last 4 goals of the game, all scored in the 3rd period.  Randen Schmidt & Jordan Kazymyra had singles for the Pat Blues.  Matthew Chekay had the hattie while Matthew Lenz & Blake Diewold shared the goaltending duties for the Pat Blues. Pictured is young "Sando" looking much more like a General than the Saskatoon team this afternoon!

Foxes hunt down Pat Blues for 3-1 victory

Regina, SK - The Regina Pat Blues appear to be in a bit of a post Christmas funk as they've lost their last four games.  Goals have been hard to come by for the Pat Blues as they've only lit the lamp once in their past two games and this game would be no different with Jacob Smith being the only player to solve Fox goalie Nathan Moore. The Foxes back end was particularly punishing for the Pat Blues forwards throughout the game.  Tylor Ludwar sealed the game with an empty net goal and Fox goalie Nathan Moore was the star of the game in my opinion.   The Pats now hit the road this weekend for games in Saskatoon and Humboldt.  Here are your Pat Blues game highlights:

Foxes take on Pat Blues in Bantam AA Action

Regina, SK - Continuing on with the animal theme (see previous story), the Pat Blues take on the Silver Foxes errrr Foxes tomorrow in Regina.  I don't think I've heard of a nickname change mid-season but apparently that's what's happened when the Pense Silver Foxes took exception to their namesake being used by a bunch of 14 & 15 year olds from the Queen city.  But enough about the legalities as the Pat Blues need to pay attention to this team that's won 3 of their last 4 games and includes speedy winger Dawson Claypool (pictured below left).  This promises to be an entertaining game so don't miss the action tomorrow night at the Ritchie!  Puck drop at 7:45 pm!

Outlaws outlast Pat Blues with 4-1 win

Regina - Sadly, I missed the game today so I couldn't get any pictures or video of any "Outlaws" so they best I could come up with is Garth Beatty's father "In-Law" Ray.  He's pictured below on the left and he's one of the biggest Pat Blues fans out there!   Jordan Kazymyra scored the only goal for the Pat Blues who find themselves in a bit of a scoring drought over the weekend as they only counted 1 goal in 120 minutes of play.  Let's hope they find their scoring touch as they'll need it this upcoming weekend for back to back games in toon town. Maybe this is just what the team needs, a road trip to come together and re-focus for the new year.  I dolphinately think this losing streak needs to come to an end!

Pat Blues get stung by Vipers 2-0

Regina, SK -  The Sask Valley Vipers defeated the Regina Pat Blues 2-0.  From what I hear the biggest highlight was Dmytro Kazymyra living large with one of the biggest 50 - 50 jackpots of the year.  Well done Kaz!  I can see you one day trying to up-sell my cell phone contract at a kiosk in the Cornwall centre!  The Vipers opened the scoring late in the second period and that was all they needed.  They added some insurance in the final half of the 3rd to put this game away.  Matthew Lenz, as always, was outstanding in net.  One other tidbit, if you think the Pat Blues blog needs some work (and it does!), check out the website from the Sask Valley Vipers.  Hello...it`s 2014 not 1996! Here are your game hi-lights brought to you by yqrsports.com