Newest Pats netminder following in father’s footsteps

WATCH: For Marek Schlenker, a recently acquired Regina Pats player, playing hockey for the WHL franchise runs in the family. Jacob Carr explains.

The newest member of the Pats goalie room, Marek Schlenker, has been well traveled during the past week since being acquired by the club.

“I got the call Wednesday morning, and I was in Penticton, so I drove from Penticton to my home in Calgary, stayed the night there and then went from Calgary to Regina the next day, and rolled in for game day skate on Friday,” he said.

The netminder was immediately pressed into duty, starting the Pats’ second game on Saturday, stopping 36 of 40 shots against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

But this is not the first time a Schlenker has suited up for the regiment. His father Chris played for the Pats from 2001 to 2004 and was a captain during his final two years with Regina.

The elder Schlenker is now an NHL referee, and his son feels proud to follow in his father’s footsteps.

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“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to play in the WHL, and my dad’s filled me in about everything in Regina. He’s had nothing but good things to say so I’ve kind of been learning about Regina my whole life, always asking him questions, he’s a very insightful guy,” the younger Schlenker said.

While the Pats have just two games under their belt, head coach Brad Herauf liked what he saw from Schlenker in his first action as a Pat.

“Just the maturity, just the calmness that he had in the net. We were overwhelmed at some points where Medicine Hat was really coming but he didn’t look like he was overwhelmed, so he definitely brought a veteran presence to our team.”

Regina now stands on the brink of its home opener Friday night against the Prince Albert Raiders.

Schlenker is excited to get his first taste of a home game at the Brandt Centre.

“I got a chance to look at Ticketmaster and it’s going to be a pretty good crowd. And obviously there’s the tailgate and the excitement for the younger guys. So, I’m pretty excited, I played here once last year on the middle of a weekday and even then, the crowd was pretty solid,” he said.

On Thursday the Pats, had yet to determine who would start in net on Friday between Schlenker, Kelton Pyne, and Taylor Tabashniuk.