The Regina Pats have solved their overage situation by trading a familiar face.
The Pats sent 20-year-old defenceman Kolten Bridgeman to the Prince George Cougars on Thursday for a 2030 third-round pick and a conditional 2030 sixth-round pick.
The move leaves Regina with three 20-year-olds on its roster: Keets Fawcett, Ellis Mieyette and Zach Moore.
For Bridgeman, the trade ends his four-year run with his hometown team. The 6-foot-5, 216-pound right-shot defenceman played 172 career games with the Pats, recording 21 points on three goals and 18 assists while accumulating 123 penalty minutes. Bridgeman played 51 games last season, scoring nine points and serving as an alternate captain.
The Pats originally listed the Regina product in 2021 before he made his WHL debut on September 23, 2022, against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
While his work on the ice mattered, Bridgeman also made a significant impact off the ice. He was named the Pats' Community Player of the Year and received the Mike Kartusch Community Service Award in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. He was also named the Eastern Division Academic Player of the Year in 2024.
“Kolten has been a leader in our community over the last four years and has been a great teammate and leader within our Hockey Club,” Pats General Manager Dale Derkatch said in a release. “We wish Kolten all the best in Prince George and thank him for his contributions to the team, both on and off the ice.”
The Pats organization also thanked Bridgeman for his commitment to the team and the Regina community.
Regina now turns its attention to three 20-year-olds as the Pats continue shaping their roster for the season ahead.
The Pats return to the ice Friday night to host the Prince Albert Raiders at the Brandt Centre. You can hear the game starting on 620 CKRM at 6:30 p.m.
