Music: {allcanada} Regina Pats set their sights high

Friday, October 28, 2011

{allcanada} Regina Pats set their sights high

Take it Off! 35% off .coms at GoDaddy.com 468x60

It's been a long time since the Regina Pats could look down in the standings.

One of junior hockey's oldest and most historic franchises seemingly lost its way over recent years, even when the team was lined with stars such as Jordan Eberle, Colten Teubert and Carter Ashton. The last three years -- a long three years where junior hockey is concerned -- the Queen City's hockey team was a mere also-ran, missing the playoffs in the 12-team Eastern Conference each season.

The goal in each of those three seasons, explains Jordan Weal, a fourth-year veteran having yet to taste playoff hockey, was simply to get there. Now the Pats are striving for much more.

"In past seasons, we've kind of set our goals to just make the playoffs and I don't think that's the attitude that we need to have," Weal said. "If you set your goals just to make the playoffs and you come short, you're not going to be in it."

The goal, as Weal indicates, is for this young, brash team to not only make the post-season dance, but make it there as the East Division winner. It's a lofty one, given the competition in the top-heavy division, but the Pats are currently on top heading into Friday's action.

That belief is all part of the changing culture in Regina. Former NHL forward Pat Conacher is now at the helm as its third head coach in four seasons, preaching a team-first concept. The players are given weekly and monthly itineraries, a monthly planner and a sense of responsibility to the player standing next to him.

"Every day we go on the ice at the same time as a team, we get off as a team," Conacher explains, "just to build that type of culture and team concept.

"We don't deviate from that rule. It's everybody together every day doing the same thing."

It's more than just lip-service, as Weal can readily attest. He was returned to the Pats by the Los Angeles Kings the night before the season opener, when the Pats were to host the Swift Current Broncos. After participating in the morning skate the day of the game, Weal missed the afternoon video session, calling it an "honest mistake" and a "brain fart."

As Conacher saw it, Weal needed to be held accountable, and made his star player a healthy scratch for the season opener.

"It really sucked not to be able to play in that home opener," Weal said. "I really wanted to be out there with the guys and start the season off."

Conacher wasn't about to let it slide after preaching the team-first mentality. If he bent now for a star player, how could he expect everyone else to buy in? Failing to make an example of Weal would soon mean the inmates would be running the asylum.

"No one's bigger than the team around here," Conacher said. "You're accountable to your teammates and at the end of the day, for a group of 20, you can't keep everybody happy if you let everybody do whatever they wanted. It's mass confusion, so there has to be guidelines and I'm the guy that controls the guidelines."

To his credit, Weal accepted his mistake and everyone moved on. The following night he picked up two assists in a 4-2 Pats win in Swift Current.

"I'm going to say Jordan Weal has been nothing short of fantastic for us," says Conacher, who also insists he doesn't hold grudges. "Jordan Weal's nothing but one of my hardest working guys each and every day on and off the ice. I have no problems with Jordan Weal."

Weal, in turn, has no problems with his head coach.

"It was something he had to do to put a staple on that team first-mentality and if you're late or something like that, it's not acceptable and there's going to be consequences," he said.

Weal is right back near the top of the league scoring race with 19 points in 13 games, but more importantly, the team's nine wins in 14 contests has them in contention for that elusive playoff spot. As a 19-year-old having already signed an NHL contract, Weal's days in junior are almost assuredly over after this season.

Having played his entire career in Regina, he'd love nothing more than to retire a Pat. As long as the team keeps on winning, chances are he will, and he'll get the opportunity to taste playoff hockey.

"It's what you're always dreaming about when you're growing up," he said. "You're imagining you're scoring that goal -- it's always Game 7 in playoffs. It's something that I really am striving for and I hope we can get there -- for everyone."

Under Conacher's watchful eye in Regina, it wouldn't be any other way.