nivek_wahs
03-23-2007, 03:28 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=069d1540-8ec5-4ce2-b995-e00571deba9e
Playoff opportunity knocking for Pats
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Friday, March 23, 2007
The Regina Pats do not have to be incredible in the 2007 WHL playoffs. Credible would suffice.
Only the wildest dreamers envision the Pats winning the Memorial Cup, or even mounting a serious challenge for the Eastern Conference title.
But it is eminently reasonable to expect that elusive first-round playoff series victory -- which would be the Pats' first since 1998.
After all, the Pats enjoy home-ice advantage for the first time since 2002. Regina's record (36-28-2-6) is also discernibly superior to that of the Swift Current Broncos (33-36-1-2), who are to visit the Brandt Centre tonight for Game 1 of a best-of-seven conference quarterfinal.
If ever there was a delicious opportunity to snap a protracted drought, this is it.
Brent Parker, who has been the Pats' general manager since 1995, does not have to be reminded of the dry spell. Last year, the colour vanished from Parker's face when, in the sombre aftermath of a first-round ouster at the hands of the Saskatoon Blades, this scribbler insensitively mentioned The Drought.
"I'm very empty right now,'' a disconsolate Parker said on April 5, 2006.
Parker is considerably more buoyant these days. He is excited about his team and its prospects, despite his abundant respect for the opponent. He insists that The Drought is not foremost in his thoughts, or even close.
"It's important to win every year,'' Parker said. "It has certainly been a while, no question about that.
"One thing we've really tried to do since clinching (home-ice advantage) is to make sure we stay healthy and that we're not changing.
"Maybe that had something to do with it in the past. Maybe we put too much emphasis on changing: 'When do we eat? When do we travel?' At this time of year, there are different ramifications if we lose, but let's keep playing the way we're playing.''
That is advisable, considering that Regina is 7-1-0-2 over its last 10 games. (Mind you, Swift Current is 7-3-0 ...)
However, the regular season can be deceiving.
For example, the Pats enjoyed a torrid finish to the 2000-01 season after Parker made a series of trades to bolster the team with a secured spot in a Regina-based Memorial Cup looming. In the first round, however, the Pats were bounced by the Calgary Hitmen.
A long wait ensued before the Pats were able to restore a modicum of credibility with an inspired performance at the Memorial Cup. In fact, the Pats were the only team to defeat the Red Deer Rebels -- the eventual champions -- at the tournament.
Oddly enough, the Pats have won two games at the Memorial Cup without winning a single playoff series over an eight-year span.
What if that ignominious streak swells to nine?
"There will always be critics,'' Parker said. "In this business, you're judged on whether you win or lose. That's the way it is. If we lose, there will be detractors and second-guessing and there will be people criticizing. That's part of the business.
"We're not trying to put undue focus on it. We believe in the kids and the program.''
However, many of them are exactly that -- kids. The two Pats players with superstar potential -- forward Jordan Eberle and defenceman Colten Teubert -- are 16. Defenceman Nick Ross and goaltender Linden Rowat, both of whom should be selected relatively early in the 2007 NHL entry draft, are 17-year-olds. Ditto for forward Brett Leffler.
It seems like defencemen Logan Pyett and Craig Schira have been around for eons, but they are 18-year-olds.
This is a team that has not yet peaked. It is likely a year or three away from experiencing the apex of success.
Even so, the Pats should have progressed to the point where they can dispose of the determined Broncos.
And should that happen, how will Parker celebrate the long-awaited conquest? Will there be champagne? Has he been secretly choreographing a Don Narcisse-style dance?
"Nobody needs to see me dance,'' Parker said. "If people think I'll dance if we win, they'll be cheering for Swift Current.''
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
Playoff opportunity knocking for Pats
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Friday, March 23, 2007
The Regina Pats do not have to be incredible in the 2007 WHL playoffs. Credible would suffice.
Only the wildest dreamers envision the Pats winning the Memorial Cup, or even mounting a serious challenge for the Eastern Conference title.
But it is eminently reasonable to expect that elusive first-round playoff series victory -- which would be the Pats' first since 1998.
After all, the Pats enjoy home-ice advantage for the first time since 2002. Regina's record (36-28-2-6) is also discernibly superior to that of the Swift Current Broncos (33-36-1-2), who are to visit the Brandt Centre tonight for Game 1 of a best-of-seven conference quarterfinal.
If ever there was a delicious opportunity to snap a protracted drought, this is it.
Brent Parker, who has been the Pats' general manager since 1995, does not have to be reminded of the dry spell. Last year, the colour vanished from Parker's face when, in the sombre aftermath of a first-round ouster at the hands of the Saskatoon Blades, this scribbler insensitively mentioned The Drought.
"I'm very empty right now,'' a disconsolate Parker said on April 5, 2006.
Parker is considerably more buoyant these days. He is excited about his team and its prospects, despite his abundant respect for the opponent. He insists that The Drought is not foremost in his thoughts, or even close.
"It's important to win every year,'' Parker said. "It has certainly been a while, no question about that.
"One thing we've really tried to do since clinching (home-ice advantage) is to make sure we stay healthy and that we're not changing.
"Maybe that had something to do with it in the past. Maybe we put too much emphasis on changing: 'When do we eat? When do we travel?' At this time of year, there are different ramifications if we lose, but let's keep playing the way we're playing.''
That is advisable, considering that Regina is 7-1-0-2 over its last 10 games. (Mind you, Swift Current is 7-3-0 ...)
However, the regular season can be deceiving.
For example, the Pats enjoyed a torrid finish to the 2000-01 season after Parker made a series of trades to bolster the team with a secured spot in a Regina-based Memorial Cup looming. In the first round, however, the Pats were bounced by the Calgary Hitmen.
A long wait ensued before the Pats were able to restore a modicum of credibility with an inspired performance at the Memorial Cup. In fact, the Pats were the only team to defeat the Red Deer Rebels -- the eventual champions -- at the tournament.
Oddly enough, the Pats have won two games at the Memorial Cup without winning a single playoff series over an eight-year span.
What if that ignominious streak swells to nine?
"There will always be critics,'' Parker said. "In this business, you're judged on whether you win or lose. That's the way it is. If we lose, there will be detractors and second-guessing and there will be people criticizing. That's part of the business.
"We're not trying to put undue focus on it. We believe in the kids and the program.''
However, many of them are exactly that -- kids. The two Pats players with superstar potential -- forward Jordan Eberle and defenceman Colten Teubert -- are 16. Defenceman Nick Ross and goaltender Linden Rowat, both of whom should be selected relatively early in the 2007 NHL entry draft, are 17-year-olds. Ditto for forward Brett Leffler.
It seems like defencemen Logan Pyett and Craig Schira have been around for eons, but they are 18-year-olds.
This is a team that has not yet peaked. It is likely a year or three away from experiencing the apex of success.
Even so, the Pats should have progressed to the point where they can dispose of the determined Broncos.
And should that happen, how will Parker celebrate the long-awaited conquest? Will there be champagne? Has he been secretly choreographing a Don Narcisse-style dance?
"Nobody needs to see me dance,'' Parker said. "If people think I'll dance if we win, they'll be cheering for Swift Current.''
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007