REGINA — Last week the Pats brought forward Sam Oremba home. The 17-year-old forward was acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds by his hometown Pats for a second-round pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, a first-round selection in 2024 and a third-round pick in 2025.
“We are pleased to welcome Sam home to Regina, and to the Regina Pats organization,” said Pats general manager and head coach John Paddock said on the team’s website. “He is a top player from his age group in Western Canada and we believe his future is bright, and so is ours with his addition. We look forward to seeing him step onto the ice with us.”
In three games with the Pats so far, Oremba has recorded an assist. He picked up two assists in as many contests with the Thunderbirds this season.
The Regina squad earned a 3-1 road win in Brandon last Wednesday. The teams were knotted at 1-1 after the first period with Alexander Suzdalev scoring the Pats goal on a power play. Tanner Howe scored the game winner in the second frame. Suzdalev added an insurance goal for his second of the night. Regina netminder Matthew Kieper was kept busy with 52 shots coming his way.
On Friday, the Pats fell 5-2 at home on front of 3,020 to the Winnipeg Ice. The Ice were up 1-0 and 3-0 at the intermissions. The Winnipeg team increased its lead to 4-0. Jaxsin Vaughan got the Pats on the board to make the score 4-1 for Winnipeg. Connor Bedard scored his sixth of the season to pull Regina to 4-2. The Pats could not get any closer and the Ice added an insurance goal. Regina’s Kieper stopped 30 shots.
The Pats improved their record to 4-4 with a 4-3 victory over Swift Current last Saturday. By the 10:44 mark in the second period the hosts held a 4-0 lead in front of 3,126 fans. The Broncos got on the board later in the period to make it 4-1. In the third, a shorthanded goal brought drew Swift Current within two, 4-2, and power play marker made it a one-goal game, 4-3. However, they could not tie things up.
Suzdalev scored twice for the Pats. Howe lit the lamp for his fourth of the season while Bedard earned his seventh. Regina was 2-for-6 on the power play while the Broncos were 1-for-1. Drew Sim made 25 saves for the win.
The Pats wrap up a three-game homestand by hosting the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday. The team heads to Swift Current on Friday before returning home Sunday to take on the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
