Pats' Tanner Howe ready for dream come true experience at upcoming NHL Draft
Tanner Howe doesn’t know when he’ll hear his name called in Las Vegas at the upcoming NHL Draft, but the Prince Albert product and Regina Pats captain does know when it happens it will be a dream come true.
The 18-year-old heads into the draft ranked 41st amongst North American skaters and had interviews with 21 NHL teams at the league’s recent combine.
Howe, who has dedicated most of his 18 years to the game of hockey says the draft will be an experience that he won’t soon forget.
“Even getting the chance to go to these things is pretty cool, I’ve heard nothing but cool stories about the Sphere in Las Vegas, my family will be there and it’s also a little [vacation] for them, whenever my name is called it will be a dream come true for sure,” he said.
Howe finished the 2023-24 Western Hockey League season with 77 points in 68 games and tied a career high in assists with 49, he was also selected to play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
However, Howe knows that in order to play at the game’s highest level he’ll have to show his strengths in more than just the offensive zone.
He’s currently described by many in the Western Hockey League as a strong two-way player.
“I think to play at that kind of level you have to be good at all areas of the game and I think for me it’s how competitive I am and my work ethic, my motor is always going and I think once I improve my skating a little more I can play [in the NHL] one day,” Howe said.
Howe’s highest points total came in 2022-23, when he recorded 85 points in 67 games and played a significant amount of time with Connor Bedard.
However, the veteran of 207 WHL games was able to prove last season that he can hold his own in the rugged Western Hockey League and be the one who commands the ship, with his predecessor of the captain “C” Bedard becoming a full time member of the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I thought coming into this year it was going to be a big year for myself,” Howe said while also appreciating the caliber of players he got to skate with in seasons past. “I knew it was going to be challenging and I really took pride in that and worked as hard as I could and thought it was a pretty good year for me.”
The odds of the dynamic duo teaming up at the NHL level are statistically slim. However, the thought is something Howe would more than embrace should it one day become a reality.
“I mean, who wouldn’t want that chance. He’s obviously really fun to play with and it’s pretty cool that I get to call him a good buddy of mine,” Howe said, adding the two friends talk regularly.
Wherever Howe ends up next season, it will come after an off-season he is spending for the most part in Regina.
"I’m here in Regina,” he said. “Just spending lots of time in the gym and on the ice looking to stay sharp and of course eventually making that next level,” he said.
Aside from Howe, twin brothers and Pats fan favorites Corbin and Jaxsin Vaughan could also hear their names called at the Sphere in Las Vegas, albeit it in the later rounds of the draft.
The WHL’s full schedule for the 2024-25 season has yet to be released as of June 19.
However, the Pats will play their home opener on Sept. 21 against the Brandon Wheat Kings after opening the regular season the night before in Howe’s hometown of Prince Albert.
The 2024 NHL Draft goes June 28 and 29.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Richard Perry, record producer behind 'You're So Vain' and other hits, dies at 82
Richard Perry, a hitmaking record producer with a flair for both standards and contemporary sounds whose many successes included Carly Simon’s 'You’re So Vain,' Rod Stewart’s 'The Great American Songbook' series and a Ringo Starr album featuring all four Beatles, died Tuesday. He was 82.
Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants and bounties for six activists including two Canadians
Hong Kong police on Tuesday announced a fresh round of arrest warrants for six activists based overseas, with bounties set at $1 million Hong Kong dollars for information leading to their arrests.
Read Trudeau's Christmas message
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued his Christmas message on Tuesday. Here is his message in full.
Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano
One of the world's most active volcanoes spewed lava into the air for a second straight day on Tuesday.
Indigenous family faced discrimination in North Bay, Ont., when they were kicked off transit bus
Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal has awarded members of an Indigenous family in North Bay $15,000 each after it ruled they were victims of discrimination.
What is flagpoling? A new ban on the practice is starting to take effect
Immigration measures announced as part of Canada's border response to president-elect Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff threat are starting to be implemented, beginning with a ban on what's known as 'flagpoling.'
Dismiss Trump taunts, expert says after 'churlish' social media posts about Canada
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and those in his corner continue to send out strong messages about Canada.
Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights
American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive.
King Charles III is set to focus on healthcare workers in his traditional Christmas message
King Charles III is expected to use his annual Christmas message to highlight health workers, at the end of a year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.