PREECEVILLE — The Preeceville senior Pats hockey team kicked off its season with a home opener against the Swan Valley Axe Men on November 8 at the Preeceville Arena. The home opener set off a disappointing start with losses against Swan Valley, followed by losses against Rocanville on November 14 and the Churchbridge Imperials on November 15.
The home opener was a special night encouraging fans to wear pink in support of Natasha Tonn, wife of Pats captain Noah Tonn, who is battling breast cancer.
The team wore pink jerseys that were auctioned off at the end of the night in a silent auction.
The Pats are also supporting the younger players in the U7 and U9 organization through a draw for the opportunity for a younger player to join them when they skate out onto the ice surface as their 7th man. They get to line up with the team for the national anthem and their immediate families get to attend the game for free. Deklyn Blender was the first player who had the special opportunity to be the team's first 7th man.
Natasha Tonn dropped the puck for the game.
The first period got off to a quick start, but Preeceville only managed to get the puck into the net when Cody Hort, assisted by Dylan Wiwcharuk, scored. The score at the end of the first period had the Pats down by four points. In the second period, Dawson Paul, assisted by Cody Hort, and Carter Masley, assisted by Dylan Wiwcharuk, added two more goals to end the period with Swan Valley leading by five goals. The third period saw Dawson Paul once again step up to score, assisted by Hort and Wiwcharuk. Kyle Yaremchuk scored unassisted, but despite the determination, the Pats came up short with a 13-5 loss against Swan Valley.
Preeceville travelled to Rocanville on November 14, which ended with a 7-0 loss, and were back in Preeceville against Churchbridge the following night, which ended with a 7-2 loss.
The Pats' next game is on November 21, when they will face off against the Canora Cobras in a home game. The Cobras were last year's champions.
The team is hoping to turn things around in future games, stated a team representative.
