Bulldogs drop Memorial Cup opener

REGINA, Sask. – It took a late goal, but the Western Hockey League’s Regina Pats shook off some rust and opened the 2018 MasterCard Memorial Cup on a positive note on Friday night.

The Pats last played on Apr. 2 in a game seven loss to the Swift Current Broncos in the opening round of the WHL playoffs and on Friday night the tournament host used a late goal by Nick Henry to beat the Ontario Hockey League champion Hamilton Bulldogs 3-2 Friday at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

Henry scored on a rebound with 32 seconds to go in regulation time after Libor Hajek’s initial shot was stopped by Hamilton netminder Kaden Fulcher.

“That was a battle,” said Regina Coach John Paddock. “It was two really good teams going really hard.”

“We got our sticks in a lot of lanes,” Paddock also said. “Our guys played a desperate game as it went on.”

Henry, Josh Mahura, and Sam Steel finished the night with a goal and an assist each for Regina.

Goaltender Max Paddock made 31 saves for the Pats.

The time off played a role in the game as the Pats got off to a quick start while the Bulldogs looked to adjust following their OHL final victory over the Soo Greyhounds.

“They had a lot of jump in their step,” said Hamilton veteran Matthew Strome. “We’re still getting off the plane and used to the time zone. We were a little bit jittery out there and we’ve just got to be better next game.”

“We had four turnovers and took three penalties, it was hard to get into a groove,” Hamilton Coach John Gruden said of the start. “We say we’re a five-on-five team and we were shorthanded for eight minutes (in the first period) and that took away some of our momentum.”

Robert Thomas and Marian Studenic scored for the Bulldogs.

“It wasn’t us,” Gruden said. “We were fortunate to have a chance to win in the last few minutes. We got what we deserved.”

Tournament action continues on Saturday afternoon as the WHL champions, the Swift Current Broncos, will face the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Acadie-Bathurst Titans. The Bulldogs return to action on Monday night while Regina is back in action on Sunday evening.