nivek_wahs
03-12-2008, 09:25 AM
Emotions in check for the big game (http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=162ccf8a-7926-4158-85cb-aa27741ad4b1)
Emotions in check for the big game
Greg Harder, Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Regina Pats can't quench a 10-year thirst by drinking from a firehose.
That's why the WHL club -- one win away from its first East Division pennant since 1998 -- is emphasizing a measured approach heading into tonight's clash with the host Moose Jaw Warriors.
"We talked about what's at stake and the message is 'Don't overthink it,' " offered Pats head coach Curtis Hunt. "It's just a game. It's our biggest rival so there's extra emotion, but everything else is a distraction. We need to prepare like we always prepare and just go out there and play one shift at a time. That's our mandate."
It's also their mantra.
Hunt's sentiments were reverberating like an echo in the bowels of the Brandt Centre on Tuesday, indicating that his players received the message loud and clear.
"Definitely it's in the back of our minds what this next game means to us," began veteran centre Kirt Hill, "but we just have to stick to our regular game plan and go through regular routines. It's a bigger game, but we're just gonna do the little things."
J.D. Watt concurred.
"We know what's at stake," he insisted. "We know if we win we clinch, but we're not gonna overthink it. We need to approach this game like we approach every other game and do the things that make us successful. If we do that to the best of our ability then things will work out fine."
The Pats only need two points in their final three regular-season games to clinch first place in the East Division, which means tonight's game at the Civic Centre isn't necessarily a "must-win." That said, Regina is still looking to take care of business as quickly as possible in hopes of resting some players on the final weekend.
"You don't want to leave it to chance," noted Watt. "We want to do it right away and after that we want to get the next two wins even if we've got it clinched. Every game is big. We have to be playing the (kind of) hockey that gets us ready for the playoffs whether we're in second place or eighth place. It doesn't matter. We have to be playing our best come playoff time."
The Pats are a confident bunch as they head into tonight's contest riding a five-game winning streak. Regina has also won its past two meetings with Moose Jaw -- a home-and-home set that began with a 4-3 shootout decision on Feb. 8 at the Civic Centre.
"We feel good about ourselves -- and we should," said Hunt. "We hold the cards to our own fate. We're playing very good as a team. We should feel good going into that building. It's a great place to play."
It's also a building that tends to give the Pats headaches.
"Sometimes we've gone in there and stunk the place out, sometimes we go in there and play good games," noted Hill. "We just have to make sure we bring our 'A' game. That's what we're gonna need to clinch."
The Pats are slated to close out the schedule on the weekend with a home-and-home set against the Brandon Wheat Kings, one of three teams that still has an outside chance to catch Regina. The others are the Warriors and Swift Current Broncos.
Moose Jaw is four points off the pace while the Broncos and Wheat Kings sit five points behind. Each of those clubs are jockeying for the best-possible finish in the standings.
With so much on the line, the Pats are taking an all-business approach to tonight's contest. They also plan to avoid any unnecessary spillover from their end-of-game melee with Moose Jaw on Feb. 9 at the Brandt Centre.
The Warriors were punished severely for their actions from that night, receiving $3,500 in fines plus five games worth of suspensions. Regina got $500 and a two-game ban.
"We can't think about that at all," added Watt. "They were a frustrated team at the end of that game and emotions boiled over. (Tonight's game) is two teams that are going to want this win bad. The two points are huge for them and huge for us."
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008
Emotions in check for the big game
Greg Harder, Leader-Post
Published: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Regina Pats can't quench a 10-year thirst by drinking from a firehose.
That's why the WHL club -- one win away from its first East Division pennant since 1998 -- is emphasizing a measured approach heading into tonight's clash with the host Moose Jaw Warriors.
"We talked about what's at stake and the message is 'Don't overthink it,' " offered Pats head coach Curtis Hunt. "It's just a game. It's our biggest rival so there's extra emotion, but everything else is a distraction. We need to prepare like we always prepare and just go out there and play one shift at a time. That's our mandate."
It's also their mantra.
Hunt's sentiments were reverberating like an echo in the bowels of the Brandt Centre on Tuesday, indicating that his players received the message loud and clear.
"Definitely it's in the back of our minds what this next game means to us," began veteran centre Kirt Hill, "but we just have to stick to our regular game plan and go through regular routines. It's a bigger game, but we're just gonna do the little things."
J.D. Watt concurred.
"We know what's at stake," he insisted. "We know if we win we clinch, but we're not gonna overthink it. We need to approach this game like we approach every other game and do the things that make us successful. If we do that to the best of our ability then things will work out fine."
The Pats only need two points in their final three regular-season games to clinch first place in the East Division, which means tonight's game at the Civic Centre isn't necessarily a "must-win." That said, Regina is still looking to take care of business as quickly as possible in hopes of resting some players on the final weekend.
"You don't want to leave it to chance," noted Watt. "We want to do it right away and after that we want to get the next two wins even if we've got it clinched. Every game is big. We have to be playing the (kind of) hockey that gets us ready for the playoffs whether we're in second place or eighth place. It doesn't matter. We have to be playing our best come playoff time."
The Pats are a confident bunch as they head into tonight's contest riding a five-game winning streak. Regina has also won its past two meetings with Moose Jaw -- a home-and-home set that began with a 4-3 shootout decision on Feb. 8 at the Civic Centre.
"We feel good about ourselves -- and we should," said Hunt. "We hold the cards to our own fate. We're playing very good as a team. We should feel good going into that building. It's a great place to play."
It's also a building that tends to give the Pats headaches.
"Sometimes we've gone in there and stunk the place out, sometimes we go in there and play good games," noted Hill. "We just have to make sure we bring our 'A' game. That's what we're gonna need to clinch."
The Pats are slated to close out the schedule on the weekend with a home-and-home set against the Brandon Wheat Kings, one of three teams that still has an outside chance to catch Regina. The others are the Warriors and Swift Current Broncos.
Moose Jaw is four points off the pace while the Broncos and Wheat Kings sit five points behind. Each of those clubs are jockeying for the best-possible finish in the standings.
With so much on the line, the Pats are taking an all-business approach to tonight's contest. They also plan to avoid any unnecessary spillover from their end-of-game melee with Moose Jaw on Feb. 9 at the Brandt Centre.
The Warriors were punished severely for their actions from that night, receiving $3,500 in fines plus five games worth of suspensions. Regina got $500 and a two-game ban.
"We can't think about that at all," added Watt. "They were a frustrated team at the end of that game and emotions boiled over. (Tonight's game) is two teams that are going to want this win bad. The two points are huge for them and huge for us."
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008