Quiet Monday

RW Evan Pighin of the Chilliwack Bruins is the Boston Pizza WHL player of the week after potting five goals, setting up three others and going plus-3 in four games last week. . . . The Regina Pats set a franchise single-season attendance record as they averaged 5,095 fans for 36 games. It’s the first time they have averaged more than 5,000 fans per game. According to the WHL Guide, their home rink, the Brandt Centre, has 5,750 seats with room for 750 standees. . . . Gotta think some of the credit goes to Cliff Mapes, the Pats’ director of sales and marketing. Of course, it only figures that Mapes is an old newspaper guy, albeit from the advertising side of the game. . . . Regina’s attendance ws up more than 400 fans per game over last season. . . . The Pats’ season-ticket sales were about 3,200 this season. . . .

There was an error here earlier when I noted that the series between the Everett Silvertips and Spokane Chiefs was the only one using a 2-3-2 format. Turns out that is incorrect. The Brandon Wheat Kings and Lethbridge Hurricanes also will go 2-3-2. They’ll open in Lethbridge on Friday and Saturday, and then head for Brandon and games March 25, 26 and, if necessary, 28. The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair begins in Brandon’s Westman Place on March 31. . . . Wheat Kings C Brayden Schenn, the WHL’s likely rookie of the year, didn’t practise Monday. He’s resting a sore groin. “He’s fine,” GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon told the Brandon Sun. “… We just want to, while we can, take the chance to make that 100 per cent, but there’s no issue at all with his health.” . . . If the series between the Calgary Hitmen and Moose Jaw Warriors goes seven games, it seems that Game 7 won’t be played in the Pengrowth Saddledome. It seems it is booked for the Juno Awards from April 1-7. Uhh, seven days for a one-day show? The Hitmen and Warriors would take their act into the Stampede Corral for Game 7 if it goes that far. . . . If you were wondering, Shaw Cable will open its playoff telecasts by following the series between the Vancouver Giants and Chilliwack Bruins. Dan Russell will call the play with analysis by Bill Wilms.