Regina Pats unveil new logo for 100th anniversary season

The Regina Pats celebrate 100 years this season, and they’re commemorating it with a fresh logo.

The new design will be showcased at centre ice at the Brandt Centre and on all Pats 100th anniversary apparel.

At Monday’s unveiling, John Paddock, head coach of the Regina Pats, called the new logo “unique” and added that it’s everything he and his team expected it to be.

“We’re looking forward to those nights when we wear those certain jerseys,” he said. “They really enhance the military and everything else that we put forth.”

With the success of last season, Stacey Cattell, the hockey club’s chief operating officer, said season ticket sales have exploded.

So far, this year, Cattell said they’ve sold a record-breaking 5,000 season ticket packages.

“Quite frankly, we could have gone a little higher, but because of our commitment to the Memorial Cup, we had to have a place where we stopped,” he said.

Next May, to coincide with the Regina Pats’ centennial, the 100th Memorial Cup will be held at the Brandt Centre, which has been approved for more than $1 million in upgrades and another $250,000 for hosting the tournament.

Al Dumba played for the Pats in the early 1970s and later went on to become the assistant coach for the WHL team in the 1990s. He said he’s happy to see people excited about the Regina Pats, and added that seeing youngsters dressed up in Pats gear symbolizes a strong future following for the team.

“If we could make the run right to the Memorial Cup, and if we win it this year, I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of lifetime season ticket holders,” he said.

When it comes to the increase in season ticket sales, Dumba said he knows first-hand how having the stands packed can help boost energy on the ice.

“When (players) have a full crowd and everybody cheering, it means so much when you score a goal — just to keep that momentum up,” he reminisced.

Meanwhile, Paddock said he can’t wait to see the crowds come out to cheer his team on.

“(The fans) are a very important part of our success and our feeling and our adrenaline and our emotion about the season,” he explained, adding that he’s confident his team could both hoist and host the Memorial Cup.

Shifting gears to this season’s roster, Paddock said he’s pleased with both the nucleus of players coming back and joining the team, and that he’s sure it’ll be a solid season.

The pre-season starts Aug. 31.