De Wit scores a hat trick in Pats preseason opener

Jeff de Wit scored a hat trick and Max Paddock saved 22 of 23 shots he faced as the Pats overtook the Blades 5-3 in the preseason opener at the Brandt Centre Thursday night.

As is the case in the preseason, the Pats rested most of their stars in favour of some of their younger and newer additions to the team.

However, de Wit made a solid contribution to the Pats in last season’s Memorial Cup run and is likely looking to build on that as Regina prepares to host the 100th year of the tournament in May.

De Wit scored the lone goal of the first period finding the net at 7:39 of the opening frame, assisted by Cole Muir.

The Blades answered back four minutes into the second period when Cameron Hebig got the only goal of the night past Paddock.

Regina answered back quickly with another de Wit goal about two minutes later and Egor Zamula, who the Pats picked up in the European draft this year, put the Pats’ third goal up at 9:01 in the second.

Moments later, at roughly the halfway point of the game, the Pats put goalie Kurtis Chapman in net, where he remained for the rest of the game.

Regular Pats tender Tyler Brown was not in the lineup Thursday.

The Blades brought it within one in the dying minutes of the second period when Jackson Caller found the back of the net.

It was 3-2 heading into the second intermission.

But de Wit wasn’t finished, netting his third goal of the night halfway through the third period and Tristen Robins knocked in an insurance goal with about two and half minutes remaining in the game.

Gage Ramsay scored once more for the visiting Blades, but the Pats held on for the 5-3 victory.

The Pats next preseason action will be on Saturday at the Brandt Centre against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

Pats single game regular season tickets go on sale Sept. 5, with the regular season beginning on Sept. 22.