Pats Grab Pre-Season Opener Victory

First Period

The Pats found themselves back on their heels early with the Wheat Kings showing no sign of bus legs.  Brandon got out of the gate quick in the hitting department and used the physical game to hold momentum through the first fifteen minutes.  The Pats dodged a bullet when they were able to kill off a Wheat Kings two man advantage midway through the first.

With just over four minutes left in the first, Patrick D'Amico made a great move behind the net, transitioned into spin move in the faceoff circle and found Colton Jobke sneaking in from the point to tally the opening goal of the game.

The Pats weren't done scoring, a late powerplay gave Lane Scheidl the room to work himself into a scoring position and fire a wrister by Brandon goalie, Curtis Honey.  The Pats took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

Second Period

The second period was uneventful in the goal scoring department as both goalies were up to any challenges tossed their way.  The key point of the frame was a tussle between Dryden Hunt and Rene Hunter.  While it wasn't much of a fight, the two went to the ice awkwardly which resulted in Hunt heading to the dressing room with an apparent injury.

Third Period

The Wheat Kings made it a game in the third when John Quenneville tallied off a nice feed from Richard Nejezchleb.  Brandon kept pushing Regina late, but an empty net goal from Patrick D'Amico stopped any chance of a comeback.

When all was said and done, the Pats were outshot 33-22, but made the most of their chances in the 3-1 win.  Goaltender Teagan Sacher was excellent in the Pats net in holding the Wheat Kings off the board until the third.  His strong play gave the Pats the chance to build their lead in the first.

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The Pats get on the road tomorrow on the back half of this home and home with the Wheat Kings.  Phil Andrews and I will be in Brandon, but unfortunately not on the air.  I may try and get a live blog set up, though I've never done one on blogger so I'm not going to make any promises just yet.

First bus trip of the new season.  The last time I was in Brandon, I realized I had left my phone in Winnipeg and had to go back.  Hopefully nothing so inconvenient this time around.

-D