CALGARY -- The Regina Pat Canadians got off to the start they hoped for in the Circle K Classic U18 AAA tournament on Friday afternoon.
Regina scored a pair of goals in each period and would go on to a 6-4 victory in their opening game of the ultra-elite event, currently underway in Calgary.
Jonah Sivertson led the offence with a stellar outing, scoring four goals and finishing with five points as the Pat Cs held off a late-game comeback attempt to secure the victory.
Regina is currently tied for first place in the Sask Male AAA Hockey League with a 20-5-2 record, while the Royals are sixth in the South Division of the Alberta Elite Hockey League with a 7-12-1-3 mark.
Things looked good early for Regina, as Chase Surkan and Sivertson scored 2:51 apart late in the opening period to give their squad a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.
Karson Schick got one back for Calgary 4:07 into the second, but Sivertson and Surkan would strike for another two quick ones -- this time at 6:48 and 8:41 -- to extend Regina’s lead to 4-2.
The Royals were able to get back within a pair before the period was out, though, with Marlo Majkovic scoring with 1:28 to play in the frame.
Calgary then made things interesting in the final four minutes of the game, beginning when Schick scored his second with 3:28 to play to get his team within one.
Sivertson replied with an empty netter with 1:11 remaining, but Calgary’s Adam Savage Keller put the pressure right back on when he scored with 1:03 to play.
Sivertson then finished things off with his second empty-net goal with 22 seconds remaining.
Neither goaltender was all that busy, as Taylor Tabashniuk finished with 16 saves for Regina and Karsten Hugenholtz stopped 18 for Calgary.
Regina’s special teams were on point with three goals on seven power-play chances while shutting out Calgary on five opportunities of their own.
Maddox Schultz, Logan Mehl and Eli Johnson each had two assists for the Pat Cs.
Regina is back on the ice against OHA Edmonton on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. before closing out their round robin against the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.
Be sure to keep an eye on www.circlekclassic.ca for information as the tournament progresses.
