It was a homecoming for local WHL defenceman Isaac Schacher when the Pats faced off against the Kootenay Ice on Saturday night.
Even though Regina ended up losing 3-1, Schacher, a Kimberley native, was excited to play in front of family and friends with his new team.
"It's always nice to be back at home, see some family and friends," said Schacher. "It's always nice being in the home rink, see familiar faces, but too bad we couldn't get the two points tonight."
Schacher, who played formerly with the Kimberley Dynamiters, was called up to the WHL with the Victoria Royals after his second season in the KIJHL. He spent most of the current WHL season in Victoria before getting traded to Regina for a pair of draft picks.
"It's been great," said Schacher. "Victoria was great to me, but getting traded to a new team, they've really accepted me and brought me in as one of their own and in their family."
Between the two teams, Schacher has suited up for 49 WHL games this season, scoring once and collecting eight assists with a plus-17 rating.
"Tonight, I got a little more ice time because we've had some key guys out," Schacher said, "but just trying to play solid defensively and move the puck well and join in offensively when I can."
In the last five years, the Pats have only made it to the post-season once, but they clinched a playoff spot last weekend and are trying to lock down second place in the Eastern Conference.
"We're just really doing the right things right now," continued Schacher. "We're doing all the little things—even tonight, we played a solid game, it was a good effort—just a little a bounce here and there really hurt us, but overall, we've been doing the right things the past little while."