Pat Canadians looking for Telus Cup repeat

The Regina Pat Canadians are eyeing back-to-back titles after a strong season, led by Maddox Schultz’s offensive efforts. Jacob Car has the story.

It was last April that Maddox Schultz scored the goal that went viral.

A wrister just 28 seconds into overtime to beat the Chevaliers de Levis and propel the Regina Pat Canadians to their fifth national championship trophy.

While it will be hard to top a national championship gold medal overtime winner, Schultz and company will be looking for a repeat of history when they head to Peterborough for this year’s tournament.

“It was super surreal last year. Obviously, I wasn’t even supposed to be in league, so it’s cool to score that goal,” said Schultz.

“But I think it was the whole team in that game that kind of just bought in and did what was needed to win.”

The old saying is familiarity breeds contempt, and Regina will be facing off with a few teams they played against in last season’s tournament.

The Okanagan Rockets will once again represent the Pacific, and Chevaliers de Levis will be looking for a measure of revenge against the Pat Canadians.

Regina netminder Adam Muntain, who was part of last year’s championship winning team, says that familiarity could be advantageous.

“Like Quebec and Okanagan were there last year, and I looked at the roster. They’re a little bit different, but we know their play style. We know what they want to accomplish, and we’re just going to have to focus on what they’re wanting to accomplish, to be good,” he said.

The Pat Canadians say they are well aware that repeating as champions will be no easy feat. They will be gunning to be the first to do so since the Red Deer Chiefs in 2012 and 2013.

“I think some of the older guys on this team that were part of the team last year, kind of going to lean on the young guys to battle. It’s going to take a lot to win, and to go back-to-back. It’s pretty hard for a group to do so. I think we got the group to do it,” said Schultz.

The Pat Canadians get their tournament underway on Monday night against the host Peterborough Petes.

The next four days Regina will play, in order, the Halifax Macs, Waterloo Wolves, Chevaliers de Levis, and Okanagan Rockets.

The top four teams after round robin play advance to Saturday’s semifinals, with the gold medal game going Sunday.

If the Pat Canadians come out victorious, they would sit alone with a record six U18 AAA national championships.

They are currently tied with five, with both the Notre Dame Hounds and Blizzard du Seminaire Saint-Francois.