BY Jonathan Huntington
REGINA – One game for all the marbles.
That’s a pretty easy way to describe Sunday afternoon’s Telus Cup Western Regional final between the Regina Pat Canadians and Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors – with the winer advancing the national U18AAA tournament in Ontario.
“The two best teams (at this regional tournament) are us and Moose Jaw,” said Regina star forward Maddox Schultz. “(We have to) recover tonight.”
The Pat Cs have a 22-hour turnaround to recover and get ready for Sunday’s championship final at Co-operators Centre (2:30 p.m. start) after a wildly-entertaining 3-2 victory against the Winnipeg Bruins on Saturday that punched their ticket to the final against Moose Jaw.
Schultz and goaltender Ben Meyer took turns playing hero in a must-win game Saturday against Winnipeg, with Schultz breaking a 1-1 tie with just five minutes left – scoring on a slapshot from a sharp angle that eluded Bruins goalie Logan German. “The game saver (for us) was Maddox Schultz getting that second (goal),” said Meyer. “We needed that kick… and he’s been rising above all year (for us).”
Added Regina head coach Ryan Hodgins on Schultz’s performance: “He’s a special player. His willingness to win is next level.”
But less than 20 seconds after Schultz broke the tie, Meyer had to stop Winnipeg sniper Antonio Correia on a clear breakaway from centre ice. “He got the helmet in the room,” quipped Schultz, referring to the award the players give to the teammate who deserves recognition after an outstanding performance. “I think that save was huge for us.”
Malaki Martin showcased his quick hands – yet again – by scoring top shelf just one minute later to give the Pat Cs some critical breathing room. It became the game-winning-goal as Winnipeg scored on the power-play with 1:46 remaining but couldn’t come any closer.
The stage is now set for a winner-take-all final tomorrow that will conclude an epic 11-game season-long battle between the Pat Cs and the Warriors.
In the 10 previous match-ups this year:
- Each team has five wins
- Seven of the 10 games have been decided by one goal
- Regina won the best-of-five provincial final just seven days ago after three contests were decided in OT
- Moose Jaw won the most recent tilt in decisive fashion – beating Regina 6-2 Friday night in the round robin
“We have to come out (Sunday) like we did in Game 5 (of the provincial final),” continued Schultz, referring to Regina scoring in the opening minute and putting Moose Jaw behind the eight ball.
Both teams will enter tomorrow with their unique challenges. Moose Jaw could be missing stud defenceman Hudson Sayers – who didn’t finish Friday’s game and didn’t dress in Saturday’s meaningless round robin contest against Thunder Bay.
And Regina’s star pair of Schultz and Liam Pue will be playing their sixth game in six days after pulling double-duty with the WHL’s Regina Pats earlier this week.
FINISH LINES: Regina is the defending Telus Cup West champion… The Moose Jaw franchise has never played in a western regional championship final.
(Photo credit: Britt Lanigan)
