New Pats swing right into action after blockbuster trade

It’s been a wild 24 hours for the two newest members of the Regina Pats.

Jaden Joseph and Ty Kolle arrived in Regina Friday morning, just hours before they were scheduled to hop the bus to Brandon with their new teammates.

Joseph and Kolle were part of Regina and Lethbridge’s blockbuster deal that saw captain Jake Leschyshyn and assistant captain Nick Henry sent west in exchange for Kolle, Joseph and five draft picks.

“It took us both kind of by surprise,” Kolle said.

“I just got traded within the last month to Lethbridge and I didn’t think I’d go again and as for (Jadon), I don’t think he thought he’d go either.”

Joseph was a career Hurricane spending his entire junior career with there, however, Kolle was with Portland before he made the move east to Lethbridge and now to Regina.

The pair drove from Lethbridge to Regina together giving them lots of time to hash out and adjust to what happened.

They also know they have big shoes to fill because not only were Leschyshyn and Henry part of the Pats’ leadership group but they were also the team’s two highest scorers.

However, Joseph feels up to the challenge.

“Always up to a challenge. Those are great guys you lost here but hopefully Ty and I can fit right in,” Joseph said.

“The biggest thing here I really want to bring is leadership, whatever I can do, I want to help everybody here. The biggest thing for me is hard work and speed and being able to contribute offensively and defensively,” he added.

As for Kolle, he’s excited to get even more playing time than he was before after seeing a boost when he was moved from Portland to Lethbridge.

“When I talked to (general manager) Pete (Anholt) and he said that I was coming here he said that I would get more opportunity. I didn’t think it could get any better than it did in Lethbridge but from what I’ve been hearing it is going to get better,” he said.

Kolle started his first two seasons with the Portland Winterhawks before being traded to Lethbridge this year. He has seven goals and four assists in 17 games so far.

Joseph is in his third year in the WHL and has already passed his career high with 10 goals this season. He’s on pace to break his record of 32 points last year. In 36 playoff games, including two years in the conference finals, he scored 15 points, including five goals.