'Start of something special': Riders use garbage bag day to reflect on 2024
Nov 11, 2024
The locker room was full of optimism for the future of the organization on Sunday.
Not only did Riley Woods spark a cascade of flying teddy bears, but he’s also up $50.
It was the Pats annual teddy bear toss at the Brandt Centre Friday. After the Pats score their first goal of the game fans throw stuffed animals out on to the ice. Later on this month the players will deliver the toys to children in the hospital.
“It was pretty crazy. I told the boys before the game I was going to get it,” Woods said of his goal.
“I got $50 actually from Connor Hobbs so, it’s good,” he said with a laugh, adding he’ll probably spend it on Christmas presents or maybe himself.
As for how he won the money, Connor Hobbs explained that before the game players will post rewards for certain achievements. It was Hobbs who put up the cash for the teddy bear goal.
“It’s all in good fun, just a little bit of extra motivation to score that goal,” Hobb said.
For a moment it looked like Hobbs himself might score it, but his shot hit the post. Still, it was a great night for the Pats defenceman who also had two goals and an assist in the matchup.
“I was really feeling good out there, things were clicking so hopefully we can keep things going,” he said.
The Pats got off to the early lead in the game, starting with Woods’ goal at 11:45. It was followed up about two minutes later with a goal from Nick Henry, his first of two for the night.
Swift Current battled back to score what would be their only goal of the night before Filip Ahl got one in to make it 3-1 going into the first intermission.
The second period was a little slower, with just one goal – but it was a beauty from the right face off circle from Hobbs.
ThePats really turned up the heat in the third, scoring four goals and leaving no doubt, but also getting a little chippy.
Four game misconducts were handed out, two to each team late in the third. The scraps were started by Pats captain Adam Brooks, and continued by Austin Wagner and Filip Ahl.
Sahvan Khaira and Calvin Spencer from the Broncos were also ejected from the game. Swift Current’s Dom Schmiemann and Brooks each got five minute majors for fighting.
Saturday will be the sixth game in eight days for the Pats, but head coach John Paddock said his team was ready Friday and will be ready Saturday, despite losing some players to World Junior tryouts.
“We got really good performances from everybody,” Paddock said. “They were ready to play tonight with tougher situations in front of us.”
The Pats will play the Saskatoon Blades at 7pm Saturday night at the Brandt Centre.
ODDS AND ENDS
- Pats Dawson Leedahl, Nick Henry and Tyler Brown were the games three stars.
- Leedahl, Hobbs and Henry each had two goal nights.
- Leedahl has also set a new career high in points in a season with 37 in 28 games.
- Pats forwards Adam Brooks and Sam Steel are currently tied for the WHL scoring lead at 48 points
- The Pats also have the top five players in plus/minus. Sergey Zborovskiy leads the way with a +46.