Tanner Howe. (Keith Hershmiller/Regina Pats)

By Jeff D’Andrea

P.A. product

Howe’s hot streak vaults him into top-5 of WHL rookie scoring

Jan 28, 2022 | 12:00 PM

Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe is having an absolute breakout season for the Regina Pats.

After a 10-game adjustment period, the Pats’ fourth-round selection in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft has been consistently producing great breakout numbers. He’s scored in 19 of his last 20 games, scoring a mind-blowing 15 goals and 32 points in that span and rocketing up to fifth overall in rookie scoring. Not bad for a guy that only turned 16 on Nov. 28.

“I think just confidence with where I am on the ice, and just being calm with the puck. And a big thing goes to my teammates for what they’ve done for me too. It’s been good,” Howe said.

Howe has been able to play with Connor Bedard, the only WHL player in history to receive exceptional status. The pair of 16-year-olds have been able to click and become a dynamic one-two punch upfront for the Pats.

“It’s crazy. He’s an insane hockey player and just a great guy on and off the ice. It’s been awesome to be able to play with him,” Howe said.

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Howe has already become well known in the Western Hockey League for his one-timer on the power play, at the top of the right circle. It’s become one of the Pats’ best weapons with the man advantage. He’s scored three goals like that against his hometown Raiders alone this year, including a beauty on Dec. 3 at the Art Hauser Centre.

“It was awesome to do that in front of my family and all my friends there. To score that goal was awesome,” Howe said. “[That shot] has always been a part of my game, but I’ve been working on it more at the end of practice and getting it dialed in. It’s obviously been working pretty good so far, so I’m hoping to keep that up.”

The Pats themselves are starting to heat up as a team as well, as they are 7-3-0-1 in their last 11 games, and are 3-0-0-1 in the 2022 calendar year.

“We obviously picked it up since the second half started,” Howe said. “I think we just have to keep playing our game, keep playing how we are and I think we’ll be really good and make it pretty far.”

Friday’s Raider game in Regina against the Pats has been postponed. The Pats will be playing the Brandon Wheat Kings instead, to make up for a previously postponed game.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW