Playoff Bound

The Regina Pats are going to the playoffs. Its been a while since Regina hockey fans could say that, but they can say it now as for the first time since the 2008 season, the team will advance into the playoffs after clinching a spot with a dramatic 5-4 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors in what was a playoff-style game between the two rivals.

The home side took an early 2-0 lead, but Moose Jaw came back to tie it before Lyndon Martell put Regina ahead 3-2. James Henry tied it at 3 before the second came to an end leading to a wild 3rd. Kenton Miller got his 3rd of the game 5 and a half minutes into the final 20 to give Moose Jaw a 4-3 lead, but the never say die Pats tied it less than two minutes later on a Matt Marantz goal and won it with just over four to play on Morgan Klimchuk's marker to send a majority of the sold out Brandt Centre home happy.

Congratulations to GM Chad Lang and Coach Pat Conacher. Many, including this blogger, didn't think the Pats would be a playoff team this year even though Lang was on the right track. This team found a way to get it done most nights and deserve to be in the playoffs where we will see what awaits them. What isn't known is where they will finish or who they will play although many want to see a Pats-Warriors first round matchup.

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Thank you to the Pats employee who informed me that the team has had 24 alumni of the team get into 20 or more NHL games since the Parker family took over the organization. I asked that question in a previous posting. I won't name all 24, (I don't have the list)but it ranges right from Jordan Eberle and Barrett Jackman to guys like Josh Holden and Garth Murray. With guys like Garrett Mitchell and Logan Pyett currently in the AHL, that number is sure to rise soon.

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If Manitoba's Rob Fowler advances to Sunday's Brier final, might he decline the invitation? Fowler was horrible in losing 9-3 to Glenn Howard in the 1-2 game. Howard's mystique just makes teams play differently against them and I'm guessing that showed again in this one.

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I hope for the Washington Redskins sake that Robert Griffin III pans out and isn't a modern day Ryan Leaf. If its the latter, the Redskins are in for some lean, lean years. They trade three first round picks and a second round pick to the Rams to get the number two pick in the draft which will most likely be Griffin after Andrew Luck goes to the Colts. Speaking of the Colts, they don't have Peyton, they probably won't have free agent Reggie Wayne and today they cut Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark along with linebacker Gary Brackett and safety Melvin Bullitt. Talk about gutting an organization and starting over. WOW!!!!

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I missed Platinum Blonde at Casino Regina tonight. DAMN!!!!! I had a good reason not to attend though. I spent my day at the U of R where the provincial high school wrestling championships are on hoping to see my daughter medal in 68 kg. She has a shot after day 1.

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The Cougar ladies basketball team is one step closer to nationals after beating Concordia 73-60 at the regionals in Saskatoon. A date against Brock awaits tomorrow. A win and they are in. A loss and they wait to see if they are a wild card team.

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Have you seen some of the upsets south of the border? I think the NCAA mens basketball tournament will be one of the best March Madness' that we've seen.

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When filling out job applications, I always write "911" for my emergency contact