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WHL Regina Pats

Joining the Pats Was Career Changing for 20-Year-Old Defenceman Luke Bateman

April 17, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Regina Pats News Release


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 with defenceman Luke Bateman.

Bateman, 20, finished his Western Hockey League career with 42 points (4G-38A), 191 penalty minutes and a +19 plus-minus rating in 210 regular season contests, splitting his four-year career between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Regina Pats.

"It was an honour to be a Regina Pat," Bateman said. "They've been apart of this league for so long and there's so much history here. On the bus ride back from Saskatoon, I think I was just looking back at some of those moments [in my career], and thinking about all the memories I've had over these last four years."

"I don't think you realize how fast it actually goes when you're having fun. This year went by the fastest by far and I wish it went by slower."

In the 2023 post-season, Bateman helped the Pats push the Saskatoon Blades to game seven of the opening round, logging big minutes and killing penalties.

"I don't think anyone would have thought for us to go seven games against Saskatoon," he said. "I am really proud of the boys for pushing. I think I did the most that I could have. I'm not a point guy so I had to lock it down in the defensive-zone which I thought I did pretty good. I think everyone trusted ourselves back there. We knew our roles and everyone played to the best of their ability."

The Kamloops, B.C. product joined the Pats prior to the 2021-22 season after playing his first two years in the WHL with Seattle. The Pats acquired Bateman for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft on August 10, 2021 and he immediately made a big impact on and off the ice.

"It really made a big difference in my career," Bateman said on being dealt to Regina. "They allowed me to play my game and be who I am and wanted to be. Coming here expanded my game. I was able to improve a lot and they had a lot of trust in me."

The 6-foot-6, 224 lb. left-shot defenceman was a durable, calming force on the backend throughout his time with the Pats, missing just nine total games over two seasons with the club, playing in 64 games in 2021-22 and 63 games in 2022-23. This past season, Bateman put up career-highs in points (15), assists (14) and plus-minus (+13), while playing on the Pats top pairing with Eastern Division Defenceman of the Year Stanislav Svozil, providing stability on the backend, allowing Svozil to rush the puck up the ice.

"It was fun to play with him and see some of the crazy things he can do," he added. "His puck handling and skating is just NHL level. I think we complimented each other very well because he would go up and I would stay back. He never had to worry about having a 2-on-0 or 3-on-0 coming back."

With all the sold out rinks, national media coverage and cheering on the road, Bateman said he won't forget his final season in the WHL and is happy he got to experience his overage season the way he did.

"It was cool and I won't forget it," he said. "It's something I don't think everyone gets to experience playing junior, so this year was special."

The stay-at-home defenceman was named an alternate captain midway through last season and became one of the full-time leaders this season, taking several young players under his wing; particularly 16-year-olds Corbin and Jaxsin Vaughan, who were navigating their way through their first season in the WHL.

Bateman was never the most vocal individual, but led by example with his play and was always kind with his teammates, staff and fans in Regina.

"I wanted to be a role model, and be a friend for [the younger players] to talk to and be there for," he said. "When you're a young guy, you start overthinking and that can eat you alive a bit, so you just have to worry about the things you can control and not the things you can't control."

As his career comes to a close, Bateman looks ahead to the next chapter of his life, where he looks to study computer sciences or business, using the league's scholarship fund where he will have at least four years of paid tuition and books.

"I'm going to talk with my parents for next year, but I'm definitely going to be going to school and I'll probably play hockey."

The WHL Scholarship is guaranteed to players by signing a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, provided he does not sign a professional hockey contract in the NHL. Each year, more than 200 WHL Scholarship recipients further their education while playing elite hockey at the USports or collegiate level across Canada.

This summer Luke plans on working a labour job as well as training for next year with any down time he has. He said the one thing he will miss the most about playing for the Pats will be coming to the rink everyday and his teammates over his career.

The Pats would like to congratulate Luke on a fantastic WHL career and wish him all the best in the future.

Check out the Regina Pats Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2023


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