Egland excited for WHL future with Pats

Jace Egland STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER FILE PHOTO

After a whirlwind rookie campaign, Jace Egland is eagerly anticipating his second season in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats.

The Eastend product began last season with the Swift Current Home Hardware Legionnaires in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League.

“We started off really good. It was really hard to leave the boys. We knew what we had going in. I don’t think the league had us on the radar if I’m being honest with you. I really don’t think the Blazers, the Pat C’s knew what we had and how much depth we actually had throughout our line-up with Berney [Weston] back and the Kirwans and [Keegan] Nash coming back from the SJHL, I think it went from ‘Oh the Legionnaires’ to ‘Oh the Legionnaires are coming.’ That was proven in our first nine games and it was looking really promising for league and maybe even the Telus.”

Egland was leading the league in scoring with nine goals and 10 assists in seven games when his WHL rights were traded from the Wenatchee Wild to the Regina Pats on October 31, 2024.

“Everything was clicking. Power play was running at plus 30 percent. PK was top of the average. There wasn’t one thing our team didn’t have. We had a good D-zone, we had a good O-zone. It was a really easy team to play with because everyone understood the systems that we were doing. It just made it easier to break down teams and you score a few more goals than last year when maybe last year when our O-zone system wasn’t as strong. With Carter [Moen], Wesley [Olson], and Trae [Peterson], obviously the offensive power and skill that they bring helps a bunch too.”

Egland registered five goals and two assists in the two games after the trade. 

“I met with them [Pats management] after our game on Sunday and basically talked about what could happen and what we wanted to happen. The choice was to either go or AP for a bit and maybe come back and see what it’s like. We knew as a family that I had to go. It was one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever made in my hockey career.”

Despite his loyalty to his teammates and friends on the Legionnaires, Egland said that he felt that the time was right to make the jump to the WHL.

“We talked about what the team was going to look like and how we have a lot of prospects coming in. We knew that we were going to make some trades, that’s what they told me. I was like if I go I’ll be able to make my footprint in the first year as a rookie and have a way more comfortable start in my second season. If I AP’d throughout then I felt like I’d be a year late. So that’s what we decided is I needed to get my foot in the ring, get a little taste of what it’s like. We just felt like going all the way up and making the decision to stay there was the best for us.”

He made his WHL debut on Nov. 8 against the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings.

“The first few games were rough. We thought our systems in Swift with the Legionnaires were strong, they’re not even close. It’s almost automatic when you get there. The D-zone plays, the bumps to the middle, the chips out, it’s all automatic because that’s just what every player needs to be able to do to compete at that level.”

His fourth WHL game was back in Swift Current against the Broncos, including former teammate Parker Rondeau.

“It was weird, but we’re still in the same bench because the Legionnaires played on that away bench for the Dub. It was kind of comforting that you were on the same bench. I’ve been here a lot. Playing against Parker was the first time in three or four years, it was a lot. It was almost like a second home because I played there so much the past few years. Having the Legionnaires come to sit in their section like they always did to watch Dub games it was just an awesome feeling.”

He scored his first WHL goal in his seventh game against the Vancouver Giants.

“You think when you’re in AAA and you get your first goal it’s cool, but it’s nothing close to when you get the first one in the Dub. It just means so much to everyone on the team. It is such a milestone that every single player on the team cares about it. Keeping that puck is just a reminder too that you finally got there.”

Egland finished with seven goals and nine assists in 44 games with the Pats.

“I’d say the first few games were a big change. But we went on our BC road trip right away and that was a really good taste and I got a bunch of games in. After Christmas I thought I fit in pretty good. PK, a little bit of power play time, so I think after Christmas, after our BC road trip I think it was a lot stronger than the first five games.”

The rebuilding Pats missed the playoffs with a 16-44-5-3 record last season, which allowed them to draft Maddox Schultz first overall. The hometown product led the SMAAAHL with 93 points in 44 games as an underage player.

“With our forward group, Maddox Schultz and Liam Pue, you cannot doubt against those two. With what they’ve done, what Schultz did at the Telus, with what he did in the season, you can’t bet against them when it comes to scoring goals and getting points,” said Egland.

“I think our offense is going to be one of the best in the league in a few years. It really depends on how much we can break teams down and just pummel them. We still need to be able to hit, we can’t just be a skill team. Skill is going to win, but hard work beats skill. We need to know that we’re not just going to be a one line team, we have to have depth and we have to be physical on teams.”

Egland was back in Swift Current this spring were he was representing the Eastend Echoes as a standout in the 100 Metres and throwing events.

“I honestly love it. I love track,” said Egland. “Training is hard. Training for the track is all about explosiveness and endurance and speed.”

He eventually won gold in the Javelin and bronze in the Discus at SHSAA Provincials in Moose Jaw to close out a decorated high school track and field career.

“It’s just a great way to represent your school too. All the other sports are pretty much during hockey season, so I can’t really do those. To wear this Eastend jersey and come out here and compete like I can, it’s a great feeling.”