Regina Pats name Dale Derkatch general manager, Alan Millar moving on to Hockey Canada role

WATCH: The Regina Pats have named Dale Derkatch its 21st general manager, replacing Alan Millar.

The Regina Pats have named the team’s all time leading scorer Dale Derkatch the 21st general manager in franchise history.

Derkatch, who had been the team’s assistant general manager takes over for Alan Millar, who will become the first full-time general manager of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence.

Millar will serve as general manager of Canada’s National Junior Team and Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. He will also oversee the national under-17 program and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Program of Excellence, Hockey Canada said in a news release.

Tristan Frei has been promoted to assistant general manager and former Pats goaltender Max Paddock will take over Frei’s former position as manager, hockey operations, the Pats said in a news release of its own.

Millar joined the Pats following the 2022-23 season and had served as vice-president, hockey operations and general manager for the past two seasons.

Derkatch rejoined the Pats as assistant general manager in July 2024 and led the organization’s scouting efforts this past season.

He brings 13 years of NHL scouting experience and was also the Pats’ head coach in 2008-09 before becoming the Prince Albert Raiders’ director of player personnel from 2009 until 2015.

Derkatch played for the Pats from 1981 to 1985 and recorded 491 points in 204 games. The Pats retired his number 16 jersey in 1998. He remains the franchise’s leader in goals, assists and points.

After Millar accepted the position with Hockey Canada last week, Derkatch was instantly excited to accept an offer to take over as general manager.

“Alan and I got together a year ago and he offered me this new position he created and he set out the plan. He had a succession plan that one day he would probably move on, maybe to some type of opportunity, like Hockey Canada or an NHL position.” Derkatch said. “Did we think it would come short of one year? No, but it’s something we really worked on together,” he added.

After missing the playoffs the past two seasons and entering rebuild mode, the Pats believe better days are not far off.

“We had a very young team last year, I believe the youngest in the league. We have 19 guys returning who can be on the team and there’s going to be some new guys pushed to be on the team as well. So I think we’ve made steps and should be a better team,” Derkatch said.

The Pats loaded up with high end draft picks in 2025, including homegrown talent in Maddox Schultz 1st overall, along with Liam Pue (3rd overall) and Logan Henry (23rd overall). Positioning the team well to move up the standings in the near future.

However, with a new rule in place that allows Canadian Hockey League players the opportunity to move to the NCAA when they are 18 years of age, Derkatch knows they will have a shorter timespan to figure out when they want to put all their chips on the table for a championship run.

“It was when Maddox [Schultz], Liam [Pue], Logan [Henry] were the first three picks in the first round. We also got Cruz Nicolay and Charlie Leonard in the second round,” said Derkatch. “When those guys are 18 or 19, that’s when you’d be looking at it. But we all know the landscape has changed, there are players leaving in their 19 year old year to go down to the NCAA. That should correct itself in a couple of years. You probably have guys leaving and coming back, but we have to look at probably when those guys are 18 years old,” he said of pushing for a championship season.

The WHL also released it’s full schedule for the 2025-26 regular season on Tuesday.

The Pats will open the year Sept. 19 in Swift Current and Sept. 20 in Medicine Hat. The team’s home opener will be Sept. 26 against the Prince Albert Raiders.