History

The Regina Pats Hockey Club is the oldest major junior hockey franchise in existence, first stepping on the ice in 1917.

Over the past 90 years, there have been several stories as to how the team got its name, but the truth is the name came from both Princess Patricia, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment which was organized at the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

A top-level junior hockey team began play in Regina in 1917, and went by the name "Patricias" until 1923 when it was shortened to "Pats". The hockey club won the Memorial Cup for junior hockey supremacy in 1925 under the guidance of the legendary Al Ritchie; the Pats captured the Memorial Cup again in 1930 and 1974.

Regina has also proved to be a springboard to a pro career for a seeming endless list of NHL'ers including Lorne Davis, Red Berenson, Murray Balfour, Bill and Ernie Hicke, Garth Butcher, Doug Wickenheiser, Mike Sillinger, Jamie Heward, Jeff Friesen, Derek Morris, Brad Stuart, Barrett Jackman, Josh Harding and Rick Rypien.

In the spring of 2001, the Pats hosted the MasterCard Memorial Cup at the Agridome. Proclaimed by many across the country as "the best ever", this great event added another chapter to the long history of this franchise.

The Pats have retired seven sweaters to the rafters of the Brandt Centre including #17 - Bill Hicke, #14 - Dennis Sobchuk, #8 - Brad Hornung, #16 - Dale Derkatch, #12 - Doug Wickenheiser, #1 - Ed Staniowski, and #9 - Clark Gillies.

Currently the Regina Pats are owned and operated by Russ and Diane Parker, and son Brent, who is the team's General Manager. The Parkers purchased the team in the summer of 1995, and over the past 12 years over 2,000,000 fans have witnessed exciting Pats hockey in the Brandt Centre.

First Game:
Regina Pats Hockey Club First - Ever Game
Friday, December 21, 1917

REGINA PATRICIAS 5 AT REGINA VICTORIAS 2

1st Period
1 VICS - Crapper 1:35
2 VICS - Marshall Baldwin 7:40
3 PATS - F. Broadfoot 10:00

Penalties:
W. Molisky PATS (1 min.); Harding PATS (1 min.); Hackney PATS (1 min.); Davidson VICS (2 min.); F. Broadfoot PATS (1 min.); Baldwin VICS (1 min.); W. Molisky PATS (1 min.); Crapper VICS (2 min.); Baldwin VICS (2 min.)

2nd Period
4 PATS - Wingham 4:00
5 PATS - Harding 11:00
6 PATS - F. Broadfoot (Harding) 11:08

Penalties:
Crapper VICS (1 min.); Miller VICS (3 min.); W. Molisky PATS (3 min.); Crapper VICS (2 min.)

3rd Period
7 PATS - Dutkowski 8:20

Penalties:
Wingham PATS (1 min.); Marshall VICS (1 min.); Marshall VICS (1 min.) Referee: Delehay Judge of Play: Charley Otton

Regina Pats Line-Up
Goal: Walter Broadfoot
Defence: Bill Broadfoot, Miller Hackney, W.A. "Ma" Wingham, N.A. Drechler
Rover: Fred Harding
Centre: Frank Broadfoot, John Molisky
Left Wing: L.J. "Duke" Dutkowski, Ernie Cameron
Right Wing: Bill "Willie" Molisky
Coach/Mgr: Bill Lea

Executive:
Allan Wetmore (President), Herb Pollock (1st Vice-President), E.C. Rossie (2nd Vice-President), Austin Smith (Secretary- Treasurer), Jerry Crapper (Executive), Walter Molisky (Executive)