The Regina Pats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. Founded in 1917, the Pats are the world's oldest continuously operating major junior hockey franchise in its original location and using its original name. The team was originally named the Regina Patricia Hockey Club, after Princess Patricia of Connaught, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and daughter of the Governor General, the Duke of Connaught. The team name also associates Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry–Pats sweaters bear the regimental badge and "PPCLI" flash as a shoulder patch.

Regina Pats
CityRegina, Saskatchewan
LeagueWestern Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionEast
Founded1917 (1917)
Home arenaBrandt Centre
ColoursRed, white, blue
     
General managerAllan Millar
Head coachBrad Herauf
Websitechl.ca/whl-pats
Championships
Regular season titles2 (1973–74, 2016–17)
Playoff championshipsMemorial Cup
1925, 1928, 1930, 1974
Ed Chynoweth Cup
1974, 1980
Conference Championships
2016–17
Abbott Cup
1919, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1930, 1933, 1950, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1969
WJHL Champions
1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956
SJHL Champions
1958, 1961, 1965, 1969
Saskatchewan Junior Champions
1918, 1919, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933
Current uniform

Today, the team plays in the East Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference. The Pats host games at the Brandt Centre and games are broadcast on 620 CKRM radio.

The Pats are one of the most successful junior hockey franchises. They have made a record sixteen appearances at the Memorial Cup tournament, and a record fourteen appearances in the tournament final. The teams' four Memorial Cup championships are the third most in history.

History

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The team was founded in 1917 and named after the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, a Western Canadian regiment founded during the First World War.[1] The Memorial Cup was founded as a tribute to Canadian war veterans, and the Pats earned the right to contest the first ever Memorial Cup championship in 1919, which they lost to the University of Toronto Schools.[2] The team's first home was at Regina Arena, which opened in 1910 and could seat approximately 2,000.[3] In 1920, the team moved to the Regina Stadium, which they would call home until 1977.[3] In 1923, the team's name was shortened to the Pats. In 1925, the team secured its first Memorial Cup title with a victory over Toronto Aura Lee.[4] For the 1927–28 season, the Pats merged with the Regina Falcons and called themselves the Regina Monarchs. The team went on to win the Memorial Cup that year before reverting to the Pats nickname in 1928–29.[5] The Pats would win one more Memorial Cup title in this era, defeating the West Toronto Nationals 2–0 in 1930.[6]

The Pats played in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1946 to 1948, the Western Canada Junior Hockey League from 1948 to 1956, and then the revived Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 1956 to 1966. During the 1960s, the club was an affiliate farm team for the Montreal Canadiens.[7]

Del Wilson, a scout for the Canadiens, became the Pats general manager in 1955; in 1966, Wilson and the Pats became central in establishing a new major junior league for western Canada, the Western Canada Hockey League.[8] Although the impetus for the new league was creating more even footing for western teams to compete with teams in eastern Canada for the Memorial Cup, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) regarded the new league as an "outlaw league" and, ironically for WCHL members, banned its teams from competing for the Memorial Cup. Because of this, the Pats returned to a once-more revived Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 1968.[9] In 1970, CAHA reorganized junior hockey in Canada and finally recognized the WCHL as a legitimate major junior league, and the Pats returned to the league, which was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1978, for good.[10] Wilson, who purchased the Pats in 1970, helped turn the team back into a national champion, as the Pats won their first President's Cup WCHL championship and fourth Memorial Cup in 1974.[11] Wilson sold his interest in the team in 1980, the same year the team won its second President's Cup.[12] The team remained competitive in the early 1980s, losing the WHL final in 1982 and 1984.[10]

In 1977, the team moved from Exhibition Stadium to the adjacent and brand-new Agridome, since renamed the Brandt Centre.[13] The team's last game at Exhibition was a 4–3 overtime win over the Swift Current Broncos in front of 2,200 fans; they opened the new arena with a 8–4 victory over the Saskatoon Blades before a crowd of 4,200.[3]

In 2014, John Paddock joined the team as its coach and manager. The 2016–17 season, the Pats' 99th, saw the team post its first ever 50-win season and capture its second Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions;[14] the team would advance to its first championship final since 1984, which it lost to the Seattle Thunderbirds.[15] The 2017–18 season marked the 100th anniversary for the Pats, and the team held celebrations throughout the year.[16] In addition to announcing an outdoor game at Mosaic Stadium against the rival Moose Jaw Warriors, the Pats hosted the 2018 Memorial Cup—they would go on to lose in the championship game.[1][17] Although the 2018 outdoor game was ultimately moved indoors due largely to weather and ice concerns, the Pats did host the Calgary Hitmen at Mosaic as part of the 2019 Heritage Classic festivities; the game, dubbed the "Prairie Classic", saw Calgary win 5–4 in overtime.[18][19]

Championship history

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The Pats have been western Canadian junior hockey champions fourteen times, including twelve Abbott Cup and two President's Cup victories. The Pats were also Saskatchewan junior hockey champions in 1918 before the advent of inter-provincial junior championships.

The Pats have appeared in more Memorial Cup tournaments than any other team, winning four times and finishing as the runner-up ten times. They have hosted the Memorial Cup tournament, solely or jointly, seven times: 1947, 1955, 1957, 1969, 1980, 2001, and 2018.

 
The Regina Pats, circa 1924–25.

WHL Championship

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Memorial Cup finals

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Season-by-season results

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points

Memorial Cup champions Western Canada/WHL champions Saskatchewan champions (1918–66)
 
The Pats faced off outdoors against the Calgary Hitmen as part of the 2011 Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium.
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Finish Playoffs
1917–18 11 10 1 0 96 37 Won championship
1918–19 18 14 4 0 164 92 Won championship and Abbott Cup
1919–20 6 1 5 0 33 42 Lost final
1920–21 5 2 3 0 14 26 Lost final
1921–22 13 9 3 1 56 28 Won championship and Abbott Cup
1922–23 8 5 2 1 78 17 Won championship
1923–24 12 9 3 0 56 32 Won championship
1924–25 17 16 1 0 120 34 Won championship, Abbott Cup and Memorial Cup
1925–26 7 4 3 0 25 15 Lost final
1926–27 14 12 2 0 56 30 Won championship
1927–28 Won championship, Abbott Cup and Memorial Cup
1928–29 10 9 1 0 49 20 Won championship
1929–30 11 11 0 0 36 5 Won championship, Abbott Cup and Memorial Cup
1930–31 14 12 1 1 42 8 Won championship
1931–32 10 8 1 1 40 3 Lost final
1932–33 19 13 3 3 55 15 Won championship and Abbott Cup
1933–34 9 5 2 2 34 14 Lost final
1946–47 30 26 4 0 201 82 49 1st SJHL Lost final
1947–48 28 20 8 0 183 107 40 2nd SJHL Lost final
1948–49 26 11 14 1 99 126 40 3rd WCJHL Lost semifinal
1949–50 40 19 20 1 182 182 39 3rd WCJHL Won championship and Abbott Cup
1950–51 40 26 12 2 207 126 54 2nd WCJHL Won championship
1951–52 44 30 11 3 229 127 63 1st WCJHL Won championship and Abbott Cup
1952–53 30 23 11 2 165 135 48 2nd WCJHL Lost semifinal
1953–54 36 23 13 0 182 119 39 2nd WCJHL Lost final
1954–55 40 30 10 0 220 116 60 1st WCJHL Won championship and Abbott Cup
1955–56 36 24 11 1 181 132 49 1st WCJHL Won championship and Abbott Cup
1956–57 51 32 16 3 225 163 67 2nd SJHL Lost semifinal
1957–58 51 36 12 3 246 160 75 1st SJHL Won championship and Abbott Cup
1958–59 48 27 17 4 162 139 58 3rd SJHL Lost semifinal
1959–60 59 36 17 6 234 142 79 2nd SJHL Lost final
1960–61 60 38 17 5 282 177 81 1st SJHL Won championship
1961–62 56 33 16 7 237 156 73 2nd SJHL Lost final
1962–63 54 22 24 8 210 195 52 5th SJHL Lost quarterfinal
1963–64 62 31 22 9 332 249 71 2nd SJHL Lost semifinal
1964–65 56 38 10 8 314 195 84 1st SJHL Won championship
1965–66 60 28 25 7 312 260 63 5th SJHL Lost quarterfinal
1966–67 56 31 18 7 324 230 69 3rd Overall Lost final
1967–68 60 29 23 8 246 237 64 5th Overall Lost quarterfinal
1968–69 42 32 9 1 262 129 65 1st SJHL Won championship and Abbott Cup
1969–70 35 21 13 1 175 126 43 2nd SJHL Lost Final
1970–71 66 28 36 2 202 246 58 4th East Lost quarterfinal
1971–72 68 43 23 2 287 225 88 1st East Lost final
1972–73 68 30 28 10 294 270 70 3rd East Lost quarterfinal
1973–74 68 43 14 11 377 225 97 1st East Won President's Cup and Memorial Cup
1974–75 70 29 36 5 260 288 63 3rd East Lost semifinal
1975–76 72 22 42 8 278 347 52 5th East Lost preliminary
1976–77 72 8 53 11 218 464 27 4th East Did not qualify
1977–78 72 29 38 5 363 405 63 3rd East Lost East Division final
1978–79 72 18 47 7 297 481 43 4th East Did not qualify
1979–80 72 47 24 1 429 311 95 1st East Won President's Cup
1980–81 72 49 21 2 423 315 100 1st East Lost East Division final
1981–82 72 48 24 0 465 368 96 2nd East Lost final
1982–83 72 48 24 0 397 281 96 2nd East Lost East Division semifinal
1983–84 72 48 23 1 426 284 97 1st East Lost final
1984–85 72 43 28 1 387 298 87 3rd East Lost East Division semifinal
1985–86 72 45 26 1 384 295 91 3rd East Eliminated in round robin
1986–87 72 31 37 4 332 356 66 5th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1987–88 72 39 29 4 342 286 82 5th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1988–89 72 23 43 6 306 358 52 8th East Did not qualify
1989–90 72 34 31 7 332 329 75 3rd East Lost East Division semifinal
1990–91 72 37 32 3 346 307 77 5th East Lost East Division semifinal
1991–92 72 31 36 5 300 298 67 7th East Did not qualify
1992–93 72 35 36 1 322 313 71 4th East Lost East Division final
1993–94 72 34 36 2 308 341 70 7th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1994–95 72 26 43 3 269 306 55 7th East Lost East Division quarterfinal
1995–96 72 37 33 2 316 284 76 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
1996–97 72 42 27 3 326 259 87 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
1997–98 72 46 21 5 334 250 97 1st East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
1998–99 72 24 43 5 238 312 53 5th East Did not qualify
1999–00 72 32 29 6 5 234 255 75 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2000–01 72 40 27 3 2 285 242 85 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2001–02 72 40 20 4 8 252 192 92 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2002–03 72 25 28 14 5 171 217 69 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2003–04 72 28 32 9 3 230 224 68 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2004–05 72 12 50 4 6 154 285 34 5th East Did not qualify
2005–06 72 40 27 1 4 236 234 85 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2006–07 72 36 28 2 6 234 220 80 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2007–08 72 44 22 4 2 217 206 94 1st East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2008–09 72 27 39 1 5 228 265 60 5th East Did not qualify
2009–10 72 30 35 3 4 246 278 67 6th East Did not qualify
2010–11 72 23 39 7 3 216 312 56 5th East Did not qualify
2011–12 72 37 27 6 2 230 214 82 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2012–13 72 25 38 4 5 193 284 59 5th East Did not qualify
2013–14 72 39 26 4 3 257 247 85 1st East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2014–15 72 37 24 5 6 263 238 85 2nd East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2015–16 72 36 28 3 5 243 253 80 4th East Lost Eastern Conference semifinal
2016–17 72 52 12 7 1 353 211 112 1st East Lost final
2017–18 72 40 25 6 1 245 235 87 3rd East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
Lost Memorial Cup final[a]
2018–19 68 19 45 1 3 173 271 42 5th East Did not qualify
2019–20 63 21 34 6 2 183 258 50 5th East Playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 24 9 12 2 1 76 96 21 5th East No playoffs held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 68 27 36 3 2 240 277 59 6th East Did not qualify
2022–23 68 34 30 3 1 262 277 72 4th East Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal
2023–24 68 22 40 4 2 208 300 50 5th East Did not qualify
Notes
  1. ^ Qualified for the Memorial Cup as host

Coaches

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Alan Millar is the current general manager and Brad Herauf is the head coach, following the retirement of John Paddock in 2023.[20]

Players

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Retired numbers

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# Player
1 Ed Staniowski
7 Jordan Eberle
8 Brad Hornung
9 Clark Gillies
12 Doug Wickenheiser
14 Dennis Sobchuk
15 Jock Callander
16 Dale Derkatch / Mike Sillinger
17 Bill Hicke

NHL alumni

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NHL first round draft picks

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Colten Teubert, drafted 13th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2008.
 
Jordan Eberle, drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2008.

Notable players

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Team records

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Team records for a single season[3]
Statistic Total Season
Most points 123 2016–17
Most wins 52 2016–17
Fewest points 27 1976–77
Fewest wins 8 1976–77
Most goals for 465 1981–82
Fewest goals for 154 2004–05
Fewest goals against 192 2001–02
Most goals against 481 1978–79
Individual player records for a single season
Statistic Player Total Season
Most goals Doug Wickenheiser 89 1979–80
Most assists Jock Callander & Dave Michayluk 111 1981–82
Most points Jock Callander 190 1981–82
Most points, rookie Dale Derkatch 142 1981–82
Most points, defenceman Darren Veitch 122 1979–80
Most goals, defenceman Connor Hobbs 31 2016–17
Most penalty minutes Al Tuer 486 1981–82
Best GAA (goalie) Josh Harding 2.39 2001–02
Plus/Minus Sergey Zborovskiy +72 2016–17
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played
Career records[3]
Statistic Player Total Career
Most goals Dale Derkatch 222 1981–1985
Most assists Dale Derkatch 269 1981–1985
Most points Dale Derkatch 491 1981–1985
Most points, defenceman Darren Veitch 214 1976–1980
Most games played Frank Kovacs 352 1987–1992
Most shutouts (goalie) Ken Walters 11 1956–59
Art Koberinski 11 1959–61
 
Josh Harding was named the WHL's top goaltender in 2003.

Awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Harder, Greg (January 24, 2017). "Pats believe they're a perfect fit for 100th Memorial Cup". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Lapp, Richard; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, B.C.: Harbour Publishing. pp. 13–14. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e Shaw, Kevin (2023). "Regina Pats Record Book". Regina Pats. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  4. ^ Lapp & Mcauley. The Memorial Cup. pp. 26–28.
  5. ^ Shaw, Kevin (September 25, 2017). "Celebrating 100 Years: Second Decade, 1927-1936". Canadian Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Lapp & Mcauley. The Memorial Cup. pp. 39–41.
  7. ^ Diamond, Dan, ed. (1994). Years of Glory, 1942–1967: The National Hockey League's Official Book of the Six-Team Era. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. p. 97. ISBN 0-7710-2817-2.
  8. ^ "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  9. ^ "Celebrating 100 Years: Sixth Decade, 1967-1976". Regina Pats. January 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Lapp, Richard M.; White, Silas (1993). Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. p. 155. ISBN 1-55017-080-5.
  11. ^ "Celebrating 100 Years: Sixth Decade, 1967-1976". Regina Pats. January 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  12. ^ "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  13. ^ Shaw, Kevin (February 27, 2018). "Celebrating 100 Years: Seventh Decade, 1977-1986". Canadian Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Harder, Greg (March 16, 2017). "Pats hit 50 wins with 6-2 rout of Broncos". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "Seattle Thunderbirds beat Regina in OT to take WHL title". Regina Leader-Post. May 14, 2017. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2024 – via Seattle Times.
  16. ^ "Regina Pats announce 'magnificent' birthday bash for centennial". CBC News. October 6, 2017. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Pats reflect on Memorial Cup final loss and say goodbye to teammates". CBC News. May 29, 2018. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  18. ^ "Regina Pats move outdoor games inside due to ticket sales, ice quality, weather". CBC News. January 4, 2018. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  19. ^ Guignard, Jonathan (October 28, 2019). "'It was just like being a kid again': Regina Pats reflect on Prairie Classic". Global News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Brad Herauf takes over as new Regina Pats head coach". CBC News. July 13, 2023. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  21. ^ Lapp & White. Local Heroes. pp. 155–156.
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