By Canadian Press

Breaking down the Pats and the Titan ahead of the 100th Memorial Cup final

May 26, 2018 | 2:44 PM

REGINA — The 100th Memorial Cup will be decided at Brandt Centre on Sunday night when the host Regina Pats take on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Here’s a break down of the two teams competing for the Canadian major junior championship:

FORWARDS

Regina: The Pats’ first line of captain Sam Steel and wingers Cameron Hebig and Nick Henry has been on fire at the tournament. Steel leads all forwards with 13 points, including 11 assists. Henry, meanwhile, leads the tournament with five goals, including a hat trick on Wednesday against the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. Hebig has four goals through four games.

Acadie-Bathurst: The Titan have been led at the Memorial Cup by captain Jeffrey Truchon-Viel’s nine points, but he has also been a force physically. Linemate Liam Murphy has also used his body to his advantage and has two goals and two assists. Speedy forward Samuel Asselin leads Acadie-Bathurst with four goals and has one of the team’s three short-handed goals.

long-term care

La Ronge housing shortage discussed at SUMA convention

2h ago

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

snowfall

Extreme weather leads to cancelled flights at La Ronge Airport

Apr 17, 2024

DEFENCE

Regina: Josh Mahura has logged the most minutes amongst Pats defencemen in the tournament and is tied for the tournament lead amongst blueliners with seven points. Libor Hajek has played alongside Mahura and been solid while Regina has also received strong play from Cale Fleury and Brady Pouteau.

Acadie-Bathurst: Draft-eligible prospect Noah Dobson has led the way on the Titan blue line, which has consistently jumped into the play and contributed offensively. Dobson is tied with Mahura with seven points and has showed strong poise at the point. Olivier Galipeau and Adam Holwell have also stood out and been forces for Acadie-Bathurst.

GOALIES

Regina: Max Paddock missed the first round of the WHL playoffs with an injury but has stepped back into the lineup and been the Pats’ No. 1 goalie at the Memorial Cup. He has a 3-0 record with a 4.09 goals-against average and .894 save percentage in four games. Paddock was pulled after allowing six goals against Acadie-Bathurst in the round robin, but is coming off a 44-save performance in the semifinal against the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

Acadie-Bathurst: Evan Fitzpatrick has the lowest save percentage of all the goaltenders competing in the tournament at .879. He has a 2-1 record with a 3.94 goals-against average. Fitzpatrick, like Paddock, was at his worst in the two teams’ round-robin matchup when he allowed four third-period goals.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Regina: The Pats have the best power play at the Memorial Cup and are operating at 33.3 per cent — scoring five times on 15 attempts. Regina likes to have one defenceman just inside the blue line quarterbacking the attack with two options at each of the wings to set up for one-timers. Their penalty kill has allowed three goals and is operating at 78.6 per cent.

Acadie-Bathurst: Other than scoring three short-handed goals, special teams has not been a strength of the Titan in this tournament. They’ve scored just once on 10 power plays with the lone goal coming against Regina in the round robin. Acadie-Bathurst’s penalty kill is operating at 71.4 per cent.

COACHES AND HISTORY

Regina: John Paddock is trying to lead the Pats franchise to its fifth Memorial Cup and first since 1974. Paddock previously served as head coach of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets in the early 90s and Ottawa Senators in 2007-08.

Acadie-Bathurst: Mario Pouliot will try and help the Titan capture their first Canadian major junior championship. Pouliot has also been head coach of the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

___

— Follow @RyanBMcKenna on Twitter

Ryan McKenna, The Canadian Press