Regina Pats and fans prepare for packed stands in playoffs

The Regina Pats have been money on the ice,and it's creating money at the box office.

The Pats knocked off the favoured Lethbridge Hurricanes in the first round of the Western Hockey League playoffs, winning the series 4-1 on Friday.

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Advancing to the next round guarantees the club at least two more home playoff games.

The Pats will travel to Red Deer to meet the Rebels this weekend for games oneand two. They'll return home for games threeand fouron April 12and April 13.

Todd Lumbard,co-ownerof the Pats, says the club budgets for two home playoff games.Having at least two extra games in Regina is a bonus.

"We're likely looking at $75,000to $100,000per game in ticket revenue" Lumbard said.

"Now of course we have additional expenses and those kinds of things.We have to pay a fee to the Western Hockey League for playoffs, things like that. But it certainly helps us for sure," he said.

Drawing in the fans

The Pats' home building, the Brandt Centre, can hold 6,500 fans.Lumbard says it wasn't quite a sellout in the two previous playoffs games against Lethbridge.

Now that the Pats have advanced another round, Lumbard says he's confident the fans will fill the place.

"We have a good product on the ice. The entertainment value is great. We've got a lot of young really exciting players. We've got a very bright future.

"The fans are getting to see these players this year and they'll get to see almost all of them next year because we'll have so many returning players."

Lumbard says the new score clock over centre ice is another added attraction for fans.

The hope is the Pats will keep lighting up that score clockand keep the fans and the money rolling in.