Temple could get an early audition

Injuries may put Pats pick in lineup

Cole Temple could soon get a headstart on his WHL career.

There is a reasonable chance the 15-year-old centre, whom the Regina Pats claimed fifth overall in the 2022 prospects draft, will make his major-junior debut this weekend against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

The teams are to meet Friday at the Brandt Centre and Saturday at Mosaic Place.

“When the schedule came out at the end of June, we thought his first game would be when we go to Brandon on Oct. 5, but I'm pretty sure he's going to be playing before that,” Pats head coach and general manager John Paddock said.

The original blueprint called for Temple's on-ice introduction to major-junior hockey to take place in his hometown, where he starred for the under-15 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings last season.

However, the ranks of the Pats' forwards have been depleted by a spate of injuries, so Temple and another 15-year-old draftee — second-rounder Corban Almen — are likely to see action at the outset of the 2022-23 season.

Friday is opening night across the 22-team WHL.

Due to injuries, the Pats are to begin the campaign without five veteran forwards — Tanner Howe (hand; week-to-week), Zack Stringer (torn Achilles tendon; indefinitely), Jakob Brook (separated shoulder; indefinitely), Braxton Whitehead (complications from appendicitis surgery; week-toweek) and Logan Linklater (upper body; week-to-week).

The Pats' depth will also be tested on account of having two NHL third-round draft choices at big-league training camps — left-winger Alex Suzdalev (Washington Capitals) and defenceman Stanislav Svozil (Columbus Blue Jackets).

Left-winger Cole Dubinsky, 20, has returned to the Pats after a training-camp stint with the Edmonton Oilers.

“Every team is excited to get going on another season, and we're looking forward to it,” Paddock said.

“We'll look forward to it a bit more when we have three or four of these guys back in the lineup.”