Howe signs with Pats

Daily Herald File Photo Prince Albert Mintos forward Tanner Howe battles for position with Saskatoon Blazers forward Parker Lalonde during a game at the Art Hauser Centre earlier this season.

Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe is now a member of the Regina Pats.

The 15-year-old forward signed a standard player agreement with the Western Hockey League club on Friday and could join the program on a full-time basis as early as this fall.

“We’re pleased to sign Tanner and thought highly of his play last season at the U15 level,” Pats general manager John Paddock said in a prepared statement.

“He was off to a strong start this season with the (Prince Albert) Mintos and we’re excited about the possibilities of him playing for us in Regina.”

After putting up 75 points in 31 regular season games and seven points in three playoff contests for the Prince Albert Venice House Pirates in the 2019-20 season, Howe was selected in the fourth round of the WHL Bantam Draft last April.

He then moved up to the Mintos and was second in team scoring with four points in five games before this past season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before signing with the Pats, Howe committed to the SJHL’s Weyburn Red Wings for next year and could still play for that club if he doesn’t make Regina’s roster out of training camp.

Howe is also the first member of last year’s Pats draft class that’s not named Connor Bedard to sign with the team.

Their second round pick, forward Matthew Wood of Nanaimo, B.C., has committed to the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies for next season.

-Advertisement-