Parker Berge is leading by example for the Regina Pats this season.
It has already been a career season for the defenceman with the Pats. Through 30 games, he established new career highs in Goals, Assists and Points. In the 2022-23 campaign with the Pats, the 20-year-old had 22 points (3G-19A).
Earlier this week, Berge joined Sean Kleisinger and Don Hewitt on the Sportscage, recapping a big weekend for him with six points (3G-3A) in two games as the Pats split a pair of home matchups against the Kamloops Blazers and Kelowna Rockets.
In the 6-4 victory against the Blazers, the defenceman registered three assists and had a +4 rating for Regina.
Berge felt that their recent win was a collective effort from the team.
“Sticking to our game for the whole 60 minutes, obviously there were portions could’ve gotten down on ourselves, but we were able to stick it out and pull out a win.”
Despite a loss on Saturday, Berge collected a hat-trick, matching his entire goal production from last season in one game.
Heading into the final week before the Christmas holidays, the Pats are on the outside of the playoff picture, but the 20-year-old for Regina feels the entire squad will benefit from the experience.
“I think lots of the learning lessons and stuff we come over and this resiliency is kind of good.”
Berge has emerged as a presence at both ends of the ice for the Pats this season, but the blueliner says taking care of business defensively has helped him at the other end of the rink.
“Just focusing on my defensive game has helped me creating a little more offensively when the puck is in their zone.”
Not only has he emerged as the Pats top defenceman in scoring, but he is among the league leaders in defenceman, currently sitting sixth overall across the league.
The Pats have a three-game, three-day road trip through Alberta before
the Christmas break. They will be stopping in Lethbridge, Red Deer, and Edmonton. Regina is five points behind the pace and will try to launch themselves back into the playoff race.
The Regiment will try and pick up a better result than their late November swing through Alberta. Regina dropped all three games in Medicine Hat, Edmonton and Red Deer.
Last month’s trip was another lesson for the squad, according to Berge.
“Going through that and having a lot of the young guy’s experience that is going to be big moving forward, coming up to this next road swing, being able to kind of connect as a team and just pull out three big ones before Christmas.”
The Pats break begins on Monday and will carry through the holiday season before returning to action on home ice at the Brandt Centre against the Brandon Wheat Kings on December 27. Despite the excitement of the holiday break, Berge remains focused on the ice leading up to it.
“Once the buzzer rings in that Edmonton game, I’ll start looking more towards Christmas.”
The Edmonton, Alberta product received an early Christmas gift from the WHL schedule maker, with the Pats finishing up in his hometown before the break. Berge is excited to get a quick start on his break when the Pats finish up with the matchup against the Oil Kings.
” It works out in my favour, I get to kind of walk out of the rink and kind of just go home, definitely going to be a treat, the schedule worked out in my favour in that case.”
