Are the Regina Pats a goon team?
The casual observer might tend to say yes, after seeing brawl after brawl on the supper news seemingly every night the past few weeks. And they've been hit by the WHL fine stick on three separate occasions in the past few weeks as well. Is this fledgling reputation deserved?
"Well it's hard to argue if it is or isn't," pondered coach Curtis Hunt on Tuesday, "We want to be a team that sticks up for each other but sometimes we've gone over the line. We need to find out where exactly that line is and stick close to it. We could be a little more selective as to when we take care of business. Intimidation is as much a part of the game as being intimidated for these players as they prepare themselves for not only the postseason, but their careers ahead."
But it appears they've learned some lessons along the way doesn't it?
"Well sometimes you need to get burned by the stove before you realize it's on. We had some suspensions, including myself, and we've had some great dialogue from players to coaches to the GM and it's been good. It's about identifying who you are, and I saw some great things against Moose Jaw on the weekend as far as structure and how we reacted and now we're excited about this weekend ahead."
The Pats open a six-game, ten-day roadtrip Friday in Kootenay (8pm on 620 CKRM). It'll take them through Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Saskatoon and P.A.
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