REGINA – Josh Mahura has come so close to being a champion in junior hockey.
He’s played in the Memorial Cup before with a host team, which lost in the semifinal. He’s been part of a team that was defeated in the WHL final. And he agonizingly missed making Canada’s 2018 world junior team, which ultimately won gold.
Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Mahura, a veteran defenceman for the WHL’s Regina Pats, is hoping his fortunes change at the 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup. The Pats open the tournament Friday against the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.
“It would mean a lot to me,” he said. “I want to win it with these guys.”
Going back in his junior career, Mahura was a sophomore with the Red Deer Rebels when they welcomed Canada’s best in 2016. However, it was a tough year for him. He tore his left MCL in the second game of the season and although he returned in time for the playoffs, he wasn’t quite up to his standards. The offensive defenceman had four points in 17 playoff games before going pointless in four Memorial Cup contests.
“I feel like my role then and now has changed quite a bit – just being a little bit older,” Mahura said. “I feel like the tournament back then was trying to get ready as quick as possible.
“Now I feel a lot better. I’m ready to take on a big role.”
Mahura, drafted in the third round (85th overall) by the Anaheim Ducks after the 2016 tourney, has played a huge role for the Pats since being acquired in January 2017.
The move was twofold by Regina coach-GM John Paddock. The Pats were one of the WHL’s best last season and primed to make a run for a WHL title. (They ultimately lost in the final to Seattle.) But Mahura was eligible to return in 2017-18, giving the Pats another stalwart blueliner for their Memorial Cup campaign.
Mahura had 17 goals and 53 points in 71 games last season, including eight goals and 20 points in 34 games with Regina after the trade. He’s produced even more this season, contributing 22 goals and 69 points in 60 games while being named to the Eastern Conference’s second all-star team.
“He hasn’t disappointed,” Paddock said.
As for the world juniors, Mahura was invited to Canada’s selection camp in December, but was among the final cuts. He was then asked back to the team for pre-tourney games once defenceman Dante Fabbro suffered an injury. When Fabbro was deemed good to go, Mahura was sent packing again.
“At first, I was pretty disappointed. When I got called back up there, I was really excited to get going. Just the hope and chance to play was all I needed to go back up,” Mahura said. “I’m happy that Dante got to play. I’m happy that Dante could help them win there. It was nice to see them win.”
Barring injury, Mahura won’t be kept on the sidelines this time. The only question remaining is whether he’ll be holding the trophy at the end.
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LESCHYSHYN LOOKING TO PUT TOUGH YEAR BEHIND HIM
Speaking of knee injuries, Jake Leschyshyn knows a thing or two about those.
The Pats centre was enjoying a strong draft year last season with 40 points in 47 games before he caught a rut in the ice in Saskatoon and tore his ACL. The injury occurred Feb. 3 and Leschyshyn missed the rest of the season, including the post-season run to the final.
The Vegas Golden Knights selected him with the last pick of the second round in June, but he didn’t return to the lineup until Oct. 6.
Things didn’t go according to plan when he did. Leschyshyn picked up the same 40 points this season – but in 17 more games than a year ago.
“It was probably the most difficult year I’ve had – just coming back and trying to feel it out,” he said. “It took a little while, if I’m going to be honest.”
Leschyshyn said it took him more than two months before he started to feel like himself on the ice again. Only now does he feel like he’s at full stride.
As a two-way centreman, Leschyshyn will be a key cog in whatever success the Pats have in this tournament. He’ll be relied upon to kill penalties against the oppositions’ top talents.
“I think this is the best I’ve felt since,” he said.
That’s good news for Regina.