WHL: Tanner Howe traded by Pats to Calgary

The Regina Pats have announced a major move Thursday, with captain Tanner Howe headed to Calgary to play for the Hitmen as the team continues to rebuild for the future.

For their best player, the Pats received 2007 defensive end Reese Hamilton, 2006 forward Keets Fawcett, a 2025 third-round draft pick and a 2027 second-round pick.

Howe was named the Pats’ captain ahead of the 2023–24 season; he became the 82nd player to wear the “C” in franchise history.

The Prince Albert product was drafted in the second round, 46th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins last June and signed a three-year entry-level contract in November. Before that, he played in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game last season.

Howe spent parts of five seasons with the Pats, recording 98 goals and 142 assists for 240 points in 217 regular-season games, tying him for 25th all-time in scoring for the franchise. He also picked up four points in seven playoff games in the spring of 2023, playing alongside Connor Bedard.

“Tanner plays the game the right way, is a great leader and is a person of great values ​​and integrity. He has a very bright future in the game and we wish him the best in Calgary and beyond with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tanner will always be a Pat,” Pats general manager Alan Millar said in a press release.

Howe is ninth all-time in franchise history with 13 game-winning goals, sixth all-time with 35 power-play goals and tied for 12th all-time with six shorthanded goals with Connor Bedard and Matt Robinson.

Hamilton, a Whitewood, Sask. product, tallied three points in 20 games with the Hitmen this season. Last year, he led all 2007-born defensemen in the WHL with 31 points in 42 games. He also recorded a five-point game on March 23.

“Hamilton is considered one of the best young defensemen in the WHL, is an elite skater, puck player and will help create offense for our team from the back end. Fawcett plays hard, is a good skater and had an impressive rookie season as a 17-year-old, scoring 19 goals,” Millar said.

The six-foot-four blueliner was selected fourth overall in the 2022 WHL prospects Draft and has represented Canada at three tournaments, suiting up for Team Canada Red at the U17s in 2023 before winning two gold medals with Canada at two U18 tournaments, the Pats said .

The 18-year-old Fawcett has seven points in 19 games this season and picked up 45 points including 19 goals in 65 games last year.

Grimshaw, Alta. The product recorded 28 of his 45 points after Jan. 1 of last year, according to the Pats.

Regina now has 15 picks in the first three rounds of the 2025, 2026 and 2027 WHL prospects Draft.

The Pats (6-11-2-2) are coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday night in which Howe was not in the lineup. Regina now plays its next eight games on the road before returning home on December 13 to face the Saskatoon Blades.

The Hitmen will next face the Pats inside the Brandt Center on Feb. 19, 2025. Regina will travel to Calgary twice before that, on Jan. 5 and Jan. 19.