Music: {allcanada} WHL: REGINA GETS OUT TO EARLY LEAD TO OUTLAST OIL KINGS

Sunday, January 1, 2012

{allcanada} WHL: REGINA GETS OUT TO EARLY LEAD TO OUTLAST OIL KINGS

A quick start was exactly what the Regina Pats needed to defeat the Eastern Conference's top team, the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Regina jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first period and never looked back as they defeated visiting Edmonton 5-2 on Sunday in Western Hockey League action.

Dominik Volek, Jordan Weal and Trent Oullette scored first period goals for the Pats (21-15-4) while Lane Scheidl and Jack Rodewald added one each in the third.

Michael St. Croix scored twice for the Oil Kings (25-10-4) and T.J. Foster assisted on both.

Matt Hewitt made 25 saves for the win while Laurent Brossoit stopped 24 shots in defeat.

Regina went 1 for 3 on the power play as Edmonton went 0 for 3 and gave up two short-handed goals.

The Pats have now picked up points in four straight games.

Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Calgary 2, Kelowna 0; Saskatoon 8, Brandon 2; Swift Current 4, Medicine Hat 2 and Kamloops 5, Prince George 0.

At Regina, Volek scored on the power play 6:07 into the game to give the Pats a 1-0 lead.

Weal added another at 13:02 and before the first period was finished Oullette scored short handed at 16:43, giving Regina a 3-0 lead.

After a scoreless second period, Scheidl extended the Pats lead with a short-handed goal 2:29 into the third.

St. Croix finally got Edmonton on the board at 16:37.

Rodewald restored a four-goal advantage for Regina before St. Croix added his second of the game with less than a minute to play.

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Hitmen 2 Rockets 0

At Kelowna, B.C., Chris Driedger turned aside all 27 shots he faced as Brook Macek's first period goal was enough for the Hitmen (19-16-3) to beat Kelowna (14-19-5).

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Blades 8 Wheat Kings 2

At Saskatoon, Matej Stransky scored three goals and set up one more as the Blades (22-16-1) crushed Brandon (21-16-2).

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Broncos 4 Tigers 2

At Swift Current, Sask., the Broncos (15-19-5) ended a five-game losing streak by defeating Medicine Hat (23-13-4), who were riding a five-game winning streak.

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Blazers 5 Cougars 0

At Kamloops, B.C., Cole Cheveldave stopped 22 shots to lead the Blazers (26-10-3) past Prince George (13-23-2).