Steel earns 300th point in 7-3 win over Blades

He said he’s not much of a milestone guy, but Sam Steel hit a big one against the Blades Wednesday night.

The team’s captain and star forward notched his 300th point – an assist – on a hustle play that forced a turnover and turned into a goal by Jesse Gabrielle.

“It was just a play that a lot of guys should make, a hard backcheck,” Steel said.

“It’s a cool milestone, it’s taken a while to get it and it’s even nicer to get it in a win.”

Steel finished the night with five helpers, and first star honours as the Pats pushed past the Blades 7-3.

Josh Mahura, who notched a goal and three assists himself, opened the scoring for his team early in the period with a powerplay goal with helpers from Cameron Hebig and Steel.

Chase Wouters answered back for the Blades at 8:30 in the first, but his former Blades teammate Libor Hajek reclaimed the Pats lead, scoring his first in a Pats jersey.

Regina held a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

The Pats took off in the second scoring three goals against former Pats goalie Tyler Brown, who started in net for the Blades.

Nick Henry notched his eighth of the season, Gabrielle added the fourth goal off Steels 300th point earning assist and Jared Legien tipped in his 18th of the year giving the Pats a 5-1 lead.

Saskatoon’s Max Gerlach closed the second with his 21st goal of the season and then opened the third with his 22nd, but it wouldn’t be enough for the Blades to catch the Pats.

Hebig, who came to the Pats on a busy trade deadline day, answered 40 seconds later and added a second for good measure at 12:21 in the period sealing a 7-3 win.

“I want to help this team win, whatever that takes, I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen,” Hebig said.

Head coach John Paddock said it was nice to see all the scoring Wednesday night, but said his team will have to be better as they go up against second-place Swift Current in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday.

“We have a big weekend coming up and the chances aren’t going to be that easy or quick or clear,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pats have forwards Jake Leschyshyn, Emil Oksanen, Koby Morrisseau and Scott Mahovlich out with injury.

Emil Oksanen could be cleared to play Thursday, but the rest of the returns are less clear. Leschyshyn isn’t expected to play this weekend, and Paddock said Morrisseau will not return to the lineup until after next week. Mahovlich is weeks away, he added.

THREE STARS

1. Sam Steel, Regina Pats (5 assists)
2. Josh Mahura, Regina Pats (1 goal, 3 assists)
3. Cameron Hebig, Regina Pats (2 goals, 1 assist)