Slaney’s five year WHL career helped shape him into the man he is today
Regina, Sask. – This week, the Regina Pats will be highlighting the impact that each of their overage players made on the team and community this past season. Today, we start by thanking Keagan Slaney for his time and contributions to the Pats organization this season.
Slaney, 20, finished his fifth and final full-season in the WHL with 11 points (2G-9A) and 57 penalty minutes in a career-high 62 games. From 2018-2024, Slaney compiled 45 points (12G-33A) in 237 career games as well as 314 career penalty minutes split between the Edmonton Oil Kings, Calgary Hitmen and Pats.
“[Playing in the Western Hockey League] was an awesome experience for my life,” Keagan Slaney said. “I really got to grow up in this league. I came in as a little 16-year-old moving away from home for the first time and I didn’t know much about anything other than hockey. I feel a lot of my strides just came off the ice with my maturity; learning how to deal with adversity and tough times, maybe not playing as much, not getting in the lineup or not getting points. Just learning how to let those things slide and be the bigger person. I also made lots of friends and connections that I will take into the next step in my life.”
During Slaney’s time in the WHL, the 5-foot-9, 185 lb. left-shot defenceman played a rugged stay-at-home style, and was known for his physical presence, toughness and steady defensive ability as well as his hockey IQ. Slaney was never afraid to get banged up by taking a check to get the puck up the ice or by blocking a shot to stop a goal. His leadership was also evident on and off the ice despite playing for the Pats for a short time.
Slaney was claimed on waivers from the Hitmen on September 20, 2023 and joined the Pats for their season opener on September 22, making his Pats debut against the Brandon Wheat Kings, quickly making an impact on the backend after only having two overagers through training camp. Slaney helped shape and mentor a young D-core that had just one veteran defenceman, with Parker Berge being the only player over the age of 19 prior to Slaney joining the group. His biggest milestone came as a member of the Pats on December 15, 2023 when he played in his 200th career WHL contest.
“Lots of 20-year-olds don’t even get the chance to play in the WHL with the limited spots, so it was super special to play for the Pats,” he said. “The fact that Al Millar, Brad Herauf and the entire staff gave me a chance to play out my final year in the WHL was special to me. Going to Regina with their history was a special experience. They’re a passionate hockey town and a great organization from top to bottom. I had a first-class experience.”
Prior to joining the Pats, Slaney had the opportunity to play for his hometown team, the Calgary Hitmen, from 2021-2023. Being from Airdrie, Alta. the Scotiabank Saddledown was a place that Slaney and his family spent a lot of time in growing up. Going to both Calgary Flames and Hitmen games, Slaney noted it was an honour to play there.
But it didn’t start there. The Edmonton Oil Kings selected Slaney along with current NHLer Dylan Guenther in the first-round of the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft. Going into the 2021-22 season, the eventual 2022 WHL Champions decided to bulk up on the backend and dealt Slaney along with defenceman Blake Heward and several draft picks to the Hitmen in exchange for Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop. The move came as a surprise for Slaney, but ultimately, he was excited to play closer to home.
“I knew Edmonton was going to be really good and was planning on making a push,” he explained. “I knew I’d be a bubble guy there so I’m not going to say I was expecting a trade but I knew it was a possibility in the back of my mind. When they called me in and told me I was traded, I thought I might be going to Prince Albert for Kaiden Guhle but it was a pretty nice surprise to be dealt to my hometown with a younger team where I’d have more opportunity. It was exciting for me.”
Growing up, Slaney played for Airdrie Minor Hockey before attending Edge School Prep for the 2018-19 season where he tallied 23 points (6G-17A) in 31 games. With the Airdie Extreme U15 AAA squad, Slaney tallied 36 points (13G-23A) in 35 games prior to being selected in the first-round in 2018. That season, he was named the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League Top Defenceman, leading all defencemen in scoring and later captained Team Central who won the 2018 Alberta Cup.
Despite some impressive offensive numbers in minor hockey, Slaney pointed out that his game never changed once he moved onto the WHL.
“I was kinda the same player I am now, but maybe not as explosive on the offensive side,” he added. “I’ve always been a little bit gritty which is something my dad taught me as I was never a big kid growing up so he taught me if you want to play at the next level, you’re going to have to be a little meaner and learn how to get under guys skin, work hard and do whatever you can to help your team win. Over my career, I solidified myself as a standout defensive player and was able to play in those types of situations a lot.”
Slaney made his WHL debut on October 27, 2018 against the Saskatoon Blades at Rogers Place and scored his first WHL goal as a 16-year-old on November 11, 2019 against the Prince Albert Raiders. Breaking into the league with the Oil Kings, Slaney was mentored by some exciting older players with the likes of Jake Neighbours, Joshua Williams and defenceman Matthew Robertson as well as Scott Atkinson and Ethan Cap.
“That team was really special,” he said. “I’m from the same hometown as Jake [Neighbours] and we grew up together so I know him pretty well and the stuff that he accomplished in the WHL and is starting to accomplish in the NHL are really special. Dylan Guenther, we got drafted at the same time and we went to go sign with each other at the same time. His [Matthew Robertson] game really speaks for itself. He’s one of the best defenceman I ever played with. He could skate the puck up the ice and was an awesome defender.”
Slaney’s family originally hails from a town in Newfoundland and Labrador called Saint Lawrence which has a population of 1,192 as of 2016. Slaney’s father Todd originally moved to Calgary when he was 25 and his mom Nadine moved to Edmonton after school. The two met in Newfoundland and decided to start a family in Airdire. Slaney’s father was an engineer by trade but now runs an excavation company in Calgary while his mom was an accountant.
Although Slaney was not born in Newfoundland, he feels he’s a “Newfie” at heart, having gone back several times to visit family. Unfortunately due to hockey commitments, Slaney has not gone back since he was 16-years-old but is looking forward to going back now that his WHL career is over.
Slaney’s parents played a pivotal role in helping him get to where he is today, giving them credit for the hours they put in bringing him to and from practice, and helping shape the man he is today.