Skip to content

Playoff field set at Memorial Cup

The Swift Current Broncos were the first team eliminated from the four-team event
2018-05-23 Memorial Cup MB
Photo courtesy Marissa Baecker/CHL Images

REGINA, Sask. – The 2018 MasterCard Memorial Cup field is down to three teams.

The Regina Pats picked up a narrow 6-5 victory over the Swift Current Broncos in a battle of Western Hockey League foes.

Leading 5-2 in the third period, the Pats would need a late goal by defenceman Libor Hajek with 1:37 to go to seal the win.

“It was wilder than any team would have liked when you have the lead, but your opposition always has a say,” said Regina Coach John Paddock. “We knew they would have a push and a response.”

The win means the Pats advance to Friday’s semifinal where they will face the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs. The winner will then move on to face the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan in Sunday’s final.

The Pats held a 4-2 lead through 40 minutes before the Broncos scored three times in the third to make the game close.

“Our group never quits,” said Swift Current Coach Manny Viveiros. “We made some mistakes and they capitalized on them. Throughout the tournament, we made tired mistakes.”

Viveiros added that fatigue was noticeable as the tournament progressed but also said that the game was the first sign of “who we were throughout the season.”

“We never quit,” Viveiros added. “We did that throughout the regular season and the playoffs when we had been down. We just kept working and that’s who that team is (in the dressing room). I’m proud of the way they responded.”

Nick Henry scored three times for the Pats, including a power play goal and a shorthanded marker. Sam Steel assisted on five goals.

“It was tremendous in the moment,” Paddock said of the performances of the pair. “They did a great job.”

Cameron Hebig chipped in with a goal and an assist while Josh Mahura assisted on two goals for the Pats. Bryce Platt had the other goal for Regina.

Pats goaltender Max Paddock stopped 26 shots.

 

Aleksi Heponiemi paced the Broncos with a goal and three assists while overage forward Glenn Gawdin had two goals and an assist.

Beck Malenstyn and Giorio Estephan had a goal and an assist each for Swift Current. Artem Minulin assisted on a pair of goals.

Swift Current goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped 22 shots.

Viveiros said that forward Tyler Steenbergen, who was injured in the Broncos tournament opener, suffered a concussion while Gawdin also played in the tournament with a separated shoulder.


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.


Discussion


Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
Read more