By Scott Fisher /

Is it possible for a team to miss the playoffs with the league’s best player in the lineup?

You wouldn’t think so.

But the Regina Pats are treading in deep water, these days.

Despite world junior superstar Jordan Eberle working miracles on a nightly basis, the Pats somehow find themselves in a major up-hill push to qualify for the post-season.

During one week, Eberle singlehandedly tried to get his team over the hump.

He scored the tying goal in a shootout loss to the Kootenay Ice earlier this month.

Later in the week, he scored with less than a minute left — sound familiar? — to force extra time and then set up the OT winner as the Pats beat the Ice 5-4.

Kootenay bench boss Mark Holick couldn’t believe Mr. Clutch was left alone at such a crucial time.

“What do you think he’s going to do with it?” Holick told the Regina Leader-Post. “There’s a pretty good chance he’s going to put it in your net.

“You can’t give Jordan Eberle a freebie from the top of the circle. He’s beaten the best goalies in the world from there.”

He also set up the equalizer in an overtime loss to the Red Deer Rebels and scored late in regulation to force OT against the Saskatoon Blades, singlehandedly earning the Pats five points in a week.

But no one seems to be jumping on the Eberle’s wagon.

The talented squad, which also boasts Eberle’s world junior teammate Colten Teubert, probably shouln’t be in the tight predicament it now finds itself in.

But Eberle can’t carry the entire team on his back.


An embarrassing 10-2 loss in Brandon — in which Eberle had two points — was the last slap-in-the-face wakeup call the team could afford to take.
Linemate Brett Leffler said there needs to be sense of urgency.

“What happened (in Brandon) is unacceptable,” Leffler told the Leader-Post. “In the end, it’s up to us older guys to take control. We can’t be letting that happen.

“I’m sure a lot of people have written us off, but this is a dressing room that hasn’t given up all year. It’s a strong group that believes we can get it done.”

The Pats rebounded with a must-have 5-3 win over the Chilliwack Bruins, but still sat six points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with 10 games left on
the schedule.

“I thought (the win over the Bruins) was a good response from everyone,” Leffler told the Leader-Post.

Head coach Curtis Hunt agreed.

“I give the guys full marks,” Hunt said. “We had contribution throughout the lineup in one form or another. We had some hiccups and we bent a little bit but found a way to get it done. In the end, that’s all that counts is finding a way.”

After the debacle in Brandon, Hunt called out his players and questioned their pride.

“I thought we came to play,” said Hunt, whose team is in danger of missing the post-season for the second straight season.

“Our guys on the bench were positive with each other, yet holding people accountable. Their banter was very much team-oriented — as I thought was our game.”

Weal, who has 28 goals and 86 points through 62 games, said Hunt’s message was heartd loud and clear.

“Some guys probably took it to heart and decided to go change it,” Weal told the Leader-Post. “Losing by that much (in Brandon) definitely hurts the morale of the team. It was good to get a quick start (the next game) and keep it going. It’s definitely a big win to boost the confidence back up. We just have to keep going for the rest of the year because we have to gain some ground.”