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The Regina Pats are off to a good start to begin the 2024-25 Western Hockey League season.
On Friday night, the Pats earned the opening-night victory with a 3-2 overtime win over the host Prince Albert Raiders at the Art Hauser Centre.
Zack Shantz scored the overtime winner on a pass from Cole Temple while Kelton Pyne made 35 saves for the victory. Max Hildebrand made 20 saves for the Raiders.
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The Pats opened the scoring in the first period on Friday night as 20-year-old forward Braxton Whitehead carried the puck up the wing on the powerplay before finding Sam Oremba backdoor for the goal to make it 1-0.
The Raiders answered in the second period as Grand Coulee product Luke Moroz poked the puck loose before Niall Crocker slid it into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
Regina then went back on top as rookie defenceman Samuel Laplante’s point shot found the back of the net. The goal was initially disallowed for a high stick but after review, it was confirmed to be a good goal.
With two minutes left in the third, the Raiders tied the game 2-2 as 2023 first overall pick Daxon Rudolph scored his first career WHL goal as he wired one by Pats’ goaltender Kelton Pyne.
In overtime, the Pats earned the extra point as Temple found a loose puck after a goalmouth scramble before finding a wide-open Shantz, who wired it home to give Regina the opening-night victory.
The Pats are back in action for their home opener on Saturday night (6 p.m., Brandt Centre) against the Brandon Wheat Kings, who beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-2 on the WHL’s opening night.
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