/(\w{3}\s+\w{3}\s+\d{1,2}/;
my $date = $1;

##</code><code>##

#!/usr/bin/perl -w

use strict;

# stuff

# (in while loop)
while (<my_file>) {
	next unless my ($date) =~ /(\w{3}\s+\w{3}\s+\d{1,2})/;
	# stuff
	if ($foo) {
		print "Date is $date\n";
	}
	# more stuff
}