nivek_wahs
03-20-2008, 06:57 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=365a0ce6-b375-457e-9703-209e10b0e3ad
True test of Parker's Pats is yet to come
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, March 20, 2008
On the evening of Dec. 30, the Saskatoon Blades visited the Brandt Centre to oppose the Regina Patz-z-z-z-z-z-z ...
The result, as you may have gathered from the introductory paragraph, was one of the worst games in WHL history.
The Blades won 2-1 even though they failed to register a shot on goal over the final 32 minutes. The agonizing spectacle showcased the worst side of the Western Hockey League while also accentuating the Pats' deficiencies.
Pats general manager Brent Parker had seen enough. He soon performed major surgery on his team, acquiring six players -- forwards J.D. Watt, Scott Doucet and Ryan DePape, along with defencemen Ryan Bender, Victor Bartley and Dallas Jackson -- in advance of the Jan. 10 trade deadline, without mortgaging the future.
Parker's Pats quickly derived benefits from the deals. Regina did not lose in regulation time during January. On the strength of a 20-7-3-1 record in the New Year, Regina finished atop the East Division standings (at 44-22-4-2) for the first time since 1998.
Based upon the numbers, Parker's moves appear to be ingenious. But the true test lies ahead.
The Pats are preparing for a best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Swift Current Broncos, who are to visit the Brandt Centre for Friday's opener.
Although the Pats are seeded second in the conference -- five spots ahead of the Broncos -- this series is a toss-up. By eliminating Swift Current, the Pats would go a long way toward validating Parker's bold moves, along with his approach.
In essence, Parker sought to alter the culture of his team near midseason. A winning formula was not ingrained from the outset, as was painfully apparent Dec. 30, so drastic changes were made.
A year ago, it was impossible to imagine the current composition of the Pats. They appeared to be set on defence, led by Logan Pyett, Nick Ross, Colten Teubert and Craig Schira.
Pyett and Teubert are the only remaining members of that quartet. Ross was shipped to the Kamloops Blazers shortly after the nose-plugger against Saskatoon. Kraus, a playmaking centre, was obtained from the Vancouver Giants in late September. As part of that deal, Schira was sent westward.
Subsequent deals for Bender and Watt put the Pats in a unique situation. None of their 20-year-olds were members of the team when it opened training camp. Ideally, at least one elder statesman would be a true-blue Pat, as opposed to a short-term proposition.
Is this a blueprint for success? Can the Pats enjoy a long and prosperous playoff run after a midseason overhaul? Or, will the fantasy league trading frenzy prove to be flawed?
Parker had little choice but to act as he did. Kudos to him for doing everything he could to bolster the team. But, optimally, a contending team should require tinkering -- as opposed to an airlift -- in early January.
Pats fans had seen it all before. Seven years earlier, Parker was unrelenting in his quest to re-make his team with a Regina-based Memorial Cup looming.
After a mediocre first half, Parker acted decisively, adding Blake Evans, Gable Gross, Garnet Exelby, Paul Elliott and Jeff Feniak for the stretch run. As was the case this season, the 2000-01 Pats excelled after consummating a series of major deals.
Parker & Co. can only hope the comparison ends there.
Seven years ago, Regina was eliminated in the first round by the Calgary Hitmen. Seven weeks later, the Pats returned to action as the Memorial Cup's host team. Despite the hiatus, the Pats performed at a level that was more than credible. Regina was the only team to defeat the Red Deer Rebels, who went on to capture the Cup.
In the final analysis, the Pats' 2000-01 season was a qualified success. Seven years later, the franchise has reached a point where small victories will no longer suffice. Parker did not dive into the trade market with the objective of watching a round or two of the playoffs. He is shooting for an extended run.
If that materializes, the Pats-Blades game -- a catalyst for a shakeup -- will look so much better in hindsight than it did on that dreary December evening.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008
True test of Parker's Pats is yet to come
Rob Vanstone, The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, March 20, 2008
On the evening of Dec. 30, the Saskatoon Blades visited the Brandt Centre to oppose the Regina Patz-z-z-z-z-z-z ...
The result, as you may have gathered from the introductory paragraph, was one of the worst games in WHL history.
The Blades won 2-1 even though they failed to register a shot on goal over the final 32 minutes. The agonizing spectacle showcased the worst side of the Western Hockey League while also accentuating the Pats' deficiencies.
Pats general manager Brent Parker had seen enough. He soon performed major surgery on his team, acquiring six players -- forwards J.D. Watt, Scott Doucet and Ryan DePape, along with defencemen Ryan Bender, Victor Bartley and Dallas Jackson -- in advance of the Jan. 10 trade deadline, without mortgaging the future.
Parker's Pats quickly derived benefits from the deals. Regina did not lose in regulation time during January. On the strength of a 20-7-3-1 record in the New Year, Regina finished atop the East Division standings (at 44-22-4-2) for the first time since 1998.
Based upon the numbers, Parker's moves appear to be ingenious. But the true test lies ahead.
The Pats are preparing for a best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal against the Swift Current Broncos, who are to visit the Brandt Centre for Friday's opener.
Although the Pats are seeded second in the conference -- five spots ahead of the Broncos -- this series is a toss-up. By eliminating Swift Current, the Pats would go a long way toward validating Parker's bold moves, along with his approach.
In essence, Parker sought to alter the culture of his team near midseason. A winning formula was not ingrained from the outset, as was painfully apparent Dec. 30, so drastic changes were made.
A year ago, it was impossible to imagine the current composition of the Pats. They appeared to be set on defence, led by Logan Pyett, Nick Ross, Colten Teubert and Craig Schira.
Pyett and Teubert are the only remaining members of that quartet. Ross was shipped to the Kamloops Blazers shortly after the nose-plugger against Saskatoon. Kraus, a playmaking centre, was obtained from the Vancouver Giants in late September. As part of that deal, Schira was sent westward.
Subsequent deals for Bender and Watt put the Pats in a unique situation. None of their 20-year-olds were members of the team when it opened training camp. Ideally, at least one elder statesman would be a true-blue Pat, as opposed to a short-term proposition.
Is this a blueprint for success? Can the Pats enjoy a long and prosperous playoff run after a midseason overhaul? Or, will the fantasy league trading frenzy prove to be flawed?
Parker had little choice but to act as he did. Kudos to him for doing everything he could to bolster the team. But, optimally, a contending team should require tinkering -- as opposed to an airlift -- in early January.
Pats fans had seen it all before. Seven years earlier, Parker was unrelenting in his quest to re-make his team with a Regina-based Memorial Cup looming.
After a mediocre first half, Parker acted decisively, adding Blake Evans, Gable Gross, Garnet Exelby, Paul Elliott and Jeff Feniak for the stretch run. As was the case this season, the 2000-01 Pats excelled after consummating a series of major deals.
Parker & Co. can only hope the comparison ends there.
Seven years ago, Regina was eliminated in the first round by the Calgary Hitmen. Seven weeks later, the Pats returned to action as the Memorial Cup's host team. Despite the hiatus, the Pats performed at a level that was more than credible. Regina was the only team to defeat the Red Deer Rebels, who went on to capture the Cup.
In the final analysis, the Pats' 2000-01 season was a qualified success. Seven years later, the franchise has reached a point where small victories will no longer suffice. Parker did not dive into the trade market with the objective of watching a round or two of the playoffs. He is shooting for an extended run.
If that materializes, the Pats-Blades game -- a catalyst for a shakeup -- will look so much better in hindsight than it did on that dreary December evening.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008