Regina Pats looking for deep playoff run for senior players

2016 is the last chance at reaching WHL playoff glory for Colby Williams, 21, and other 20-year-olds on the Regina Pats playing their last year of junior hockey.

Younger players want graduating players to end off with championship

CBC News Posted: Mar 28, 2016 7:17 PM EDT | Last Updated: March 31, 2016

The Regina Pats in action against the Swift Current Broncos on March 18, 2016. (Keith Hershmiller Photography)

It's playoff season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and after a rough start the Regina Pats have evened its series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes andhoping to take a lead at home Tuesday night.

After an early second-round playoff exit in 2015 at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Pats are looking for a long playoff run in 2016.No one wants it more than 21-year-old Colby Williams.

"I think me and the other 20-year-olds are into it. We're all in this year and I think we realized that it's out last year and most 20-year-olds in the league put it all out there," Williams said Monday.

On the eve of Game 3 of the first round of playoffs, players know this could be a turning point early in the series.

Nineteen-year-old Connor Hobbs remembers last year's playoff exit and the bitter end to some junior careers. Hobbs wants this year's playoff run to be longer, especially for Williams a fellow Washington Capitals prospect.

"I know last year it's pretty sad in the room when the season's over that's not something you look forward to at all and if that's going to get a guy get excited and play for the 20-year-olds that's awesome," Hobbs said.

Colby Williams, 21, says it's all on the line with 2016 being his last season in junior hockey. Williams was drafted by the Washington Capitols in the sixth round in 2015. (CBC)

Leading the Pats behind the bench, head coach John Paddock said the players' incentive to win should extend beyond just the graduating players.

"They play for the team, the organization, that's what they play for," Paddock said.

Still, Williams can't be faulted for using his final year as his own extra motivation.

"It might mean more to the 20-year-olds than it does to the 16-years-olds, I think, because a 16-year-old has a lot more hockey to play," Williams said. "But you know this is our last year and we want to have a good run and I think we have the team to do it."

But even a good run for Colby Williams this year will be his last run as a junior.

The Pats and Hurricanes face off at the Brandt Centre tomorrow night at 7 p.m. CST.

Corrections

A previous version of this story stated the Regina Pats were eliminated from the 2015 WHL playoffs by the Edmonton Oil Kings. In fact, they were eliminated by the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Mar 31, 2016 12:13 PM CT

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