Regina Pat Canadians Aim to Defend Hockey Titles After Historic Season
The Regina Pat Canadians are poised to defend their championship crown after an extraordinary 2025-26 season that saw them capture league, regional, and national titles. With the playoffs now underway, the team is focused on replicating last year's success, despite significant roster changes and fierce competition.
Dominant Regular Season Performance
Despite returning only six players from last year's championship squad, the Pat Canadians compiled an impressive 38-3-3 record during the regular season. This performance secured them first place in the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL), finishing just three points ahead of the second-place Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors, who ended with a 37-5-2 record.
The team's success has earned them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, a crucial factor as they begin their quest to repeat as champions. Their quarterfinal series pits them against the eighth-seeded Saskatoon Contacts, who finished the regular season with a 19-23-2 record.
Playoff Schedule and Historical Context
The best-of-five quarterfinal series begins on Sunday in Regina at the Cooperators Arena, with Game 1 scheduled for 1 p.m. Game 2 will shift to Saskatoon on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m., followed by Game 3 back in Regina on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 4 will be played in Saskatoon on March 7, and Game 5 would return to Regina on March 8.
During the regular season, Regina won three of four meetings against Saskatoon, with the Contacts claiming the most recent matchup 7-4 on February 10. Regina's victories came on October 11 (7-2), October 30 (4-2), and January 14 (4-3).
Building on Last Year's Championship Run
Last season, the Pat Canadians finished first in the SMAAAHL standings with a 35-7-2 record before defeating the Prince Albert Mintos, Saskatoon Blazers, and Moose Jaw in the playoffs to claim the league title. They then went undefeated at the Western regionals to advance to the Telus Cup national championship.
In the gold medal game, Regina needed overtime to defeat Quebec's Chevaliers de Levis 3-2, with Maddox Schultz scoring the winning goal to secure the team's first national championship since 1999. Schultz led the league last season with 93 points in 44 games and has continued his strong play this year, recording 60 points in just 21 games with the Pat Canadians while also playing for the Western Hockey League's Regina Pats.
Roster Evolution and Key Players
The team has undergone significant changes since last year's championship run. After Schultz, the next eight scorers from last year's roster—Johan Sivertson, Chase Surkan, Eli Johnson, Logan Mehl, Ryan Ulmer, Cruz Klapak, Reid Bechard, and Ethan Dundas—have all graduated from the program, along with starting goalie Taylor Tabashniuk.
This year's roster features six returning skaters and one goalie: Schultz, Nathan Gardiner, Ethan Young, Cooper Bratton, Brodie Bowen, Dane Mansuy, and Adam Muntain. The team has also welcomed twelve newcomers: Malaki Martin, Ryker Doka, Grady Hodgins, Kysen Rogoza, Eli Heroux, Brady Vipond, Kai Lanigan, Xavier Doane, Mahlon Wiley, Alan Han, Logan Dosenberger, and Ben Meyer.
Another notable player is Liam Pue, who, like Schultz, has split time between the Pat Canadians and the Regina Pats, recording 48 points in 21 games at the U18 level.
As the playoffs begin, the Regina Pat Canadians face the challenge of defending their titles with a mix of returning champions and promising newcomers. Their dominant regular season performance and home-ice advantage provide a strong foundation for what they hope will be another championship run in 2026.
