Steel Makes Most of Mentorship Camp

The future of Canadian hockey was on display in Toronto last week at the Allstate All-Canadians Mentorship Camp.  Forty-two of the top bantam-aged players from across Canada came together for a week of skill-building with mentors like Jason Spezza and Claude Giroux, as well as taking some time to learn about what it takes to succeed in hockey off the ice.  With the potential clearly evident among the players who have attended the camp the past three years, it’s not outrageous to say there will be a few NHL All-Stars among the crop.

With that in mind, it’s definitely good news for Regina Pats fans to see Pats prospects at the past two camps.  In 2012 it was defenceman Brady Reagan who will be one of the challengers for a 16-year old slot on the Pats 2013-14 roster come Training Camp (August 28^th).  Last week it was the team’s 2^nd Overall pick in the 2013 Bantam Draft, Sam Steel. 

The dynamic forward showcased his abilities in the All-Canadians Mentorship Cup, the finale to the week.  Steel tallied a goal and an assist in the contest and racked up numerous scoring chances.  While the game, televised on TSN2, was a chance for Steel to demonstrate his talent to a wide audience; the value in the camp was mainly from what he was able to learn from the numerous mentors at the camp.

“It was unbelievable,” said Steel looking back on the week.  “Being surrounded by the top kids in Canada and the nutritionists, Gary Roberts, and my coach Jason Spezza… I learned a lot.  I mean you’re in an environment and want to take in everything you can.”

Photo Credit: Keith Hershmiller

Two Pats Hope to Realize Draft Dreams

It’s something every kid lacing up a pair of skates dreams about.  Hearing their name called at the NHL Entry Draft.  For 210 draft eligible players, those dreams will become a reality this Sunday in New Jersey as the NHL holds its annual intake draft.  The 2013 class is headlined by the likes of Portland Winterhawks defenceman Seth Jones and Halifax Mooseheads forward Nathan MacKinnon.  For the Regina Pats, two names found their way onto the Final Central Scouting Draft Rankings this season.  Morgan Klimchuk led the duo as the talented sniper from Calgary finished up 25^th on the North American Skaters list.  Kyle Burroughs used a brilliant second half to rocket up the rankings to 133^rd when the final list was revealed.

While the players involved try to keep the draft out of mind during the season to focus on the job at hand with the Pats, just a few days out from the big day, the nerves are starting to settle in.

“I definitely have some nerves, obviously there’s some excitement there as well,” admitted Burroughs as he looks towards Sunday.  It will be a long day for the 17-year old as if his name is called; it will likely be in the later stages of the draft.

The anxiety is a little different for Klimchuk as he will most likely hear his name called within the first two rounds.  The Calgary product found his way into the top 30 during TSN's Draft Rankings Show this week.

“The days are starting to get pretty long now, starting to get some nerves,” explained Klimchuk.  “We’re starting to see all the lists come out and people are starting to talk about the draft.  Not a whole lot has changed… I’ve talked to a couple of teams over the phone, but it’s been a pretty normal, stressful but laid-back week.”

While Morgan Klimchuk consistently hung around the same rankings range on the CSS lists this season, Kyle Burroughs was one of the big risers this year.  From the Mid-Term to the Final rankings, Burroughs leapt 73 spots (206 to 133) while tallying 26 of his 33 points in the second half of the season.

“I think I just stuck to the way I played,” said Burroughs of his jump in the rankings.  “Obviously I had a good second half of the year points-wise and I think the way I conducted myself on the ice and with the team in every game helped.”

Harding Provides Hope

When the NHL announced its yearly award winners last week, you’d have to look long and hard to find someone shocked former Regina Pats, now Minnesota Wild, goaltender Josh Harding received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.  The trophy is awarded to the NHL Player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."  In Harding’s case, that meant bouncing back from being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in November and giving the Wild a chance to win in their Stanley Cup Playoff series against Chicago when starter Niklas Backstrom went down with an injury in warm-ups before Game One.

 “My mind was clear, I was ready to go,” explained Harding as he looked back on the series.  “It was obviously an unexpected turn of events, but I thought I prepared myself well and I did whatever it took to give the team a chance to win.”

Harding’s return to the NHL came earlier in the season in about as impressive fashion as one could expect from any goaltender stepping in.  Just a couple months after his diagnosis, the Regina product shut out the Dallas Stars, stopping 24 shots, in a 1-0 Minnesota win.  With the shortened season, Harding was utilized sparingly down the stretch, playing in four contests the rest of the way before his stellar run in the playoffs.

“It was a huge accomplishment for myself and I’m glad the team realized how hard I was trying to get back, obviously with a couple of complications,” said Harding of being the Wild nominee for the Masterton Trophy.  “They've had my back from the very beginning when they first drafted me so I can’t say enough about the Wild organization.”

“(My teammates) treated me just like they did before my diagnosis and that’s what I wanted.  I didn't want to be treated differently and they were awesome, again, I can’t say enough about the organization and my teammates.  I’m proud to be a part of this team.”

While Harding admits winning the Masterton Trophy is an honour for himself, he hopes the attention from the award and his story goes towards raising MS awareness. 

“It’s obviously a huge honour to have won that award and more than anything, I hope it brings awareness to MS,” commented the former Pat.  “I’m hoping people can look at my story and use it as whatever positive they can.  For myself, I have an obligation to my team to make sure I’m ready.  I’m not the kind of guy to sit down and feel sorry for myself.  I have to get up and get going, I’m hoping people take the positives out of that and if it does help them… that would be great.”

Jordan Eberle and Mike Sillinger
in their Harding's Hope t-shirts

Harding isn't stopping at being a positive story for those dealing with MS in their life.  He’s taking action in the form of spearheading a new charity by the name of “Harding’s Hope”.

“We are going to help people with MS.  I've lived this, I’m passionate about it, I know what goes into having this diagnosis and how expensive the treatments are in the U.S.A and how limited the places are in Canada to get treatment.  We’re going to try to help out as much as we can.”

Harding’s Hope already has a strong foothold, and that was evident at the annual Sticks on Rose Tournament in Regina where celebrity players donned Harding’s Hope shirts in support of the charity.

 

“We’re going to set the bar high and hopefully get there.  The support and outreach has been amazing and I can’t say enough about the people who want to get involved with MS and the awareness we’re going to get out there as well.”

For more information on Harding’s Hope, visit hardingshope.org and follow @HardingsHope on Twitter.

Colton Orr: Taking the Next Step

The name Colton Orr doesn’t ring out as one of the franchise players for the playoff bound Toronto Maple Leafs.  That tag falls to names like top scorers Nazem Kadri and Phil Kessel.  That said, with the Leafs breaking out of a nine year playoff drought, Colton Orr is a large part of the shift in team identity that put the Blue and White back into the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup. 

With the 2012-13 NHL Regular Season in the books, Toronto holds the most penalty minutes in the NHL.  That mark is powered by a runaway lead in the major penalty category, 46 through 48 games.  The next closets teams are Philadelphia and Columbus, both standing at 35 majors through 48 contests.  Breaking it down even further, three players consistently contribute to that major mark in Frazer McLaren, Mark Fraser and… Colton Orr.

“We wanted to be hard to play against,” said Orr, the NHL’s penalty minutes leader.  “We were doing the little things a lot more and you could tell in our game when teams come to play us it’s going to be a long night.  We really make sure that we come to work.”

A team’s work ethic and toughness goes far beyond willingness to drop the gloves in the heat of the battle, but the Leafs’ combativeness is certainly part of that lunch-bucket mantra.  Orr is no stranger to playing in an environment that demands a strong work ethic.  His journey to the NHL started its Major Junior roots with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos before moving to the Kamloops Blazers and finally landing in the Queen City with the Regina Pats for the 2002-03 season.

Photo Credit: The Globe and Mail

Not Just Developing Hockey Players

The final buzzer sounds and fans cheer as the Pats salute the assembled after a victory.  The players head off the ice and to their dressing room to shed their gear and head home for some much deserved rest.  After a weekend that saw the Pats win 5-1 and 6-2 over divisional rivals Moose Jaw and Saskatoon, the players have four days before suiting up for a Friday game against Medicine Hat.  After a break for Christmas, this week won’t be one to relax.  On-ice practices, off-ice workouts and mental preparation are the routine leading up to a three game in three night stretch for the Pats.

This week, like any other, won’t be centred only on hockey.  The players will be out and about within Regina, helping various community organizations because while developing hockey players is large part of what the organization does… more important is the development of young adults who will contribute to their community for years to come and long after they hang up their skates. 

Pats Add Size on the Back-End

The Pats completed another pre-season trade today, this one with the Victoria Royals to acquire 6'5" defenceman Kade Pilton.


This is the second deal swung by Chad Lang in the exhibition season to add experience to the defence.  Pilton brings some of that with a season under his belt in Victoria where he played 43 games and totaled thirteen points to go with 52 penalty minutes.

Pilton also adds a booming shot from the point, something the Pats haven't really been able to feature on their powerplay in the early going.  Expect Pilton to see some time with the man advantage for just that reason.

The big defender was a second round pick (25th Overall) in the 2009 of the (then) Chilliwack Bruins.

Headed the other way in the transaction are the WHL rights to forward Demico Hannoun and a conditional third round pick in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Pats continue the pre-season against the Saskatoon Blades tomorrow night in their first game at the Brandt Centre this season.  Puck drop is seven o'clock.

For more Pats news and videos, check out ReginaPats.com

-D

Pats Trim Roster

Always a tough day when releases and reassignments are handed down during Training Camp and the Pre-Season.

Today, the Pats issued two such decrees by reassigning forward Dane Schioler and releasing overage forward Tanner Olstad.