Pats forward Sam Failler takes torch from Braxton Whitehead

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Maybe it was a symbolic passing-of-the-torch moment for the Regina Pats when forward Sam Failler, a second-round draft choice from nearby Dundurn who turned 16 last month, made his WHL debut mere days after veteran teammate Braxton Whitehead’s junior career came crashing to a halt.

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“What a first game Sam Failler had!” said Whitehead, wearing a foreboding, Robocop-style arm cast over his suit jacket.

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“It would be great if he could keep up that average — two points and four penalty minutes per game.”

Indeed, with several family members and Whitehead among the 3,552 patrons watching from the Brandt Centre stands, Failler assisted on goals by Zach Pantelakis and Jace Egland during his WHL debut, plus he inadvertently turned his best scoring opportunity into a double-minor penalty when his high stick smacked into a defender’s face. The Regina Pats lost 7-5 to the visiting Swift Current Broncos on Saturday, their seventh straight defeat heading into a road game Sunday against the Saskatoon Blades and another home game Tuesday against Swift Current.

“It was a lotta fun,” said Failler, who had 37 points in 42 games this season for the Warman Wildcats of the Saskatchewan U18 AAA Hockey League. “It just sucked we couldn’t get the win.

“I played pretty good but there were some little areas in the (defensive) zone where I have to have my head on a swivel a bit better. It’s a lot faster out here so they can jump really quick. You have to be aware of that.”

One game before Failler’s premiere, Whitehead crashed into the boards and suffered an as-yet undetermined injury that ended his final WHL season six games too early.

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“I stuck out my right arm to brace myself, felt this really weird pop and my arm was on fire,” said Whitehead. “I knew something wasn’t right. I thought I broke it, but it’s looking like muscle or ligament problems. I haven’t gotten an MRI or ultrasound yet to see what it is.”

A third-round draft choice by the Pats in 2019, Whitehead’s odometer stopped at five seasons, 254 regular-season games, 46 goals and 70 assists for 116 points and 119 penalty minutes. Four months ago he was the first athlete to announce he was taking advantage of a new rule allowing major junior players to join Arizona State University.

Asked about his favourite Pats memory, Whitehead quickly recalled “that playoff series was pretty electric.” On a 2022-23 squad featuring soon-to-be-NHLer Connor Bedard, the Pats played a memorable first-round series against the heavily favoured Saskatoon Blades, who won the seventh and deciding game. It was Whitehead’s only postseason appearance.

“It can just end like a snap of your fingers,” said Whitehead. “There was no last game because I was expecting to play the rest of the season. Now I’m out potentially for a pretty long time.

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“(Teammate John Babcock) and I were go to do something in warmups, take a last lap as 20-year-olds. My dad was going to watch my last game in Brandon. I wanted to spend some time with him, my teammates and my billets. I guess I’ll be spending more time than I planned, but I’ll just stay out of the way and support everyone because it’s not about me.”

The rebuilding Pats were long ago eliminated from playoff contention and have scored five goals only twice in the past two months, so any offensive firepower is certainly welcome. For their final few games the Pats have had several of their 2009-born prospects practising with them, but league rules limit them to dressing only one per game unless there are special circumstances. Without Whitehead and injured defender Reese Hamilton, the Pats would like to keep Failler on the roster.

“(Failler’s) going to put up some offence when he’s older,” said Pats head coach Brad Herauf. “He’s going to fit seamlessly with us because he plays his position and he’s got a hockey IQ.

“Those guys usually come along a little quicker.”

As the WHL’s lowest-scoring team with 162 goals in 64 games, the Pats are going to soon need Failler and his next-gen teammates to help on the scoreboard.

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