ESTEVAN - The Regina Pats and the Swift Current Broncos delivered an entertaining game for hockey fans in the Estevan area Tuesday night.
Connor Bedard scored twice in the Pats' 4-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos in Western Hockey League preseason action at Affinity Place.
After a tentative start to the game, Ty Hurley scored with 6:14 left in the first period to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Then less than two minutes later, Brady Birnie tallied to double the Broncos' advantage.
The Broncos had opportunities to add to the lead, but couldn't convert.
Corban Almen scored for Regina at the 7:34 mark of the second period to pull the Pats to within one. Then Bedard - who is expected to be the top pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft - took over.
He scored a short-handed goal 2:14 after Almen's goal to tie the game. The goal came early in a five-minute Broncos power play. And Bedard created additional offensive opportunities in the period.
Then 51 seconds into the third, he scored on a heavy one-time shot from the point on a Pats' power play to give Regina a 3-2 lead.
Borya Valis' goal with 1:47 to play in the third put the game away.
Koen MacInnes (25 saves on 27 shots) and Drew Sim (six saves on six shots) split the goaltending duties for the Pats. Joey Rocha (16 saves on 18 shots) and Berney Weston (19 saves on 21 shots) were the goalies for Swift Current.
A large crowd filled Affinity Place for the game. Many stuck around for an autograph session following the contest.
Be sure to check SASKTODAY.ca for further coverage of the game.
