Riders beat Lions to punch ticket to CFL West final
Nov 03, 2024
The Riders are back in the West final for the first time since 2021.
Some last-second heroics — literally — by Connor Bedard helped the WHL’s Regina Pats post a 3-2 overtime victory over the host Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Bedard scored a power-play goal with one second left in the five-minute overtime period, lifting the Pats (9-10-0-0) to their third straight victory — all since vice-president of hockey operations and general manager John Paddock replaced Dave Struch behind the bench last Thursday.
Bedard’s goal came after Lethbridge’s Nolan Bentham was penalized for throwing his stick with 1:09 left in the OT session.
Alex Geci, whom the Pats signed Monday after his release by the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, had the other goals for the Pats.
The 18-year-old product of Topolcany, Slovakia, was selected by Sarnia with the seventh pick of the 2020 CHL import draft.
The 6-foot-3, 193-pound forward didn’t play for the Sting last season, which was cancelled due to COVID-19. He appeared in nine games with Sarnia this season, recording a goal and two assists.
The Pats claimed Geci after he was put on import waivers and he made his debut in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory over the host Medicine Hat Tigers.
Noah Boyko and Logan Wormald had goals for the Hurricanes in Wednesday’s contest.
Matthew Kieper stopped 40 shots in the Pats’ net, while Bryan Thomson made 32 saves for the Hurricanes (7-10-1-0).
In Wednesday’s other games involving Saskatchewan-based teams, Eric Alarie had a goal and three assists as the Moose Jaw Warriors beat the Prince Albert Raiders 4-1, and the Swift Current Broncos fell 7-0 to the Winnipeg Ice.