Regina Pats trade scoring leader and captain Tanner Howe

After a year as the third-youngest captain in the Regina Pats’ history, Tanner Howe has been traded to the Calgary Hitmen.

“While this is an important trade for our franchise, it is also very difficult moving a quality person, and quality player, in Tanner Howe,” Alan Millar, the Pats’ general manager, said in a news release.

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“Tanner plays the game the right way, is a tremendous leader, and is a person with 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.”

Howe led the team with 28 goals and 49 assists last season, and earned seven goals in 10 games so far this season.

In the trade, the Pats got back 2007-born defenceman Reese Hamilton who’s from Whitewood, Sask., along with 2006-born forward Keets Fawcett from Grimshaw, Alta., a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.

“Hamilton is considered one of the top young defenceman in the WHL, is an elite skater, puck mover, and will help generate offence for our team from the back-end,” Millar said.

“Fawcett plays the game hard, is a good skater, and had an impressive rookie season as a 17-year-old scoring 19 goals.”

Hamilton won gold as an underager at the World U18 Championships in April, and won gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August. He’ll play for Team CHL at the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge later this month.

Fawcett was sixth in scoring on the Hitmen last season and in the top 20 goal scorers among players in his age group.

With this trade, the Pats now have 15 picks in the first three rounds of the 2025, 2026, and 2027 WHL Prospects Drafts – that includes five first-round picks, six second-round picks, and five third-round picks.