They have done it numerous times this year, loading the bus before taking to the road for a game, or several games away from the Brandt Centre.

This time the trip is a little different.

The Regina Pats are making the trip up Highway 11 to Saskatoon to open up their first round WHL playoff series with the Saskatoon Blades.  Games one and two are in Saskatoon Friday and Sunday, before the series switches to Regina for games three and four Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

“I’m super pumped” says Pats star Connor Bedard. “Obviously last year, pretty upsetting we didn’t get in when we were so close.”

Bedard had an incredible season with the team, scoring 143 points in 57 games for Regina in a season that included winning gold with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships, and a sure bet to be the first overall pick in this summer’s NHL draft.  A long playoff run wouldn’t be too bad to add on top of that.

You can catch all the playoff games on 620 CKRM.  On Friday, the pregame show starts at 6, Dante De Caria will have the play by play starting at 7pm.