Pats Announce 2026-27 Leadership Group; Hamilton Named 84th Captain In Franchise History
Regina, Sask. — The Regina Pats have announced their leadership group for the 2026-27 Western Hockey League season, with 19-year-old defenceman Reese Hamilton named the 84th captain in franchise history.
Hamilton will be joined by Maddox Schultz and Dayton Deschamps as full-time alternate captains, while Kolten Bridgeman will serve as an alternate captain for home games and Zach Moore will wear an “A” for road contests.
Hamilton, 19, is coming off a career season with the Pats after recording career highs in points (43) and assists (36), while adding seven goals in 67 games during the 2025-26 campaign. The Whitewood, Sask. product also finished the season with a +6 rating, establishing himself as one of Regina’s top blueliners.
The 6-foot, 181-pound left-shot defenceman has earned invitations to three NHL camps over the past calendar year. Hamilton attended the Dallas Stars Development Camp this past summer, the Seattle Kraken Development Camp following the 2025 season and the Winnipeg Jets Rookie Camp last fall.
“Reese embodies what it means to be a Regina Pat,” said Pats head coach David Bell. “He has earned the respect of his teammates through the way he prepares, competes and carries himself every day. He’s a perfect leader for our hockey Club and our community, and we’re excited to see him take on this role.”
Schultz, 16, becomes the first 16-year-old Pats player to be named an alternate captain since Connor Bedard did so during the 2021-22 season. The Regina product recorded 29 points (15G-14A) in 34 games with the Pats last season, while combining for 137 points (64G-73A) in 75 games between the Regina Pat Canadians and Pats.
The 5-foot-10, 180-pound centre also enjoyed a standout summer on the international stage alongside Pats teammate Liam Pue, helping Canada capture gold at the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Schultz finished the tournament with 10 points (3G-7A) in five games, tying for the tournament scoring lead, as Canada captured its 26th gold medal and 31st overall medal at the annual under-18 tournament.
Deschamps, 19, will serve as an alternate captain for the first time in his career. The Saskatoon product posted 10 points (3G-7A) in 52 games last season. Over his WHL career, the 6-foot, 194-pound left-shot defenceman has recorded 17 points (7G-10A) in 109 career games.
Bridgeman and Moore, both in their final junior season, return as alternate captains for the 2026-27 season.
A Regina product, Bridgeman has recorded 21 points (3G-18A) in 171 career games with the Pats since joining the Club during the 2022-23 season. The 6-foot-5, 216-pound right-shot defenceman posted nine points (1G-8A) in 51 games last season.
Moore, a Saskatoon product, has been with the Pats since the 2023-24 season and has recorded 61 career points (30G-31A) in 172 games. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound right-shot forward established a career high with 25 points (10G-15A) in 52 games last season.
The Pats will open their home schedule on Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m. when they welcome the Swift Current Broncos to the Brandt Centre.
For more information on the Pats’ 2026-27 home opener, CLICK HERE.
