Callander takes place among Pats all-time greats

The number 15 will now always be synonymous with Jock Callander in Regina Pats’ lore.

The Pats announced it will honour Callander in a pre-game ceremony on Feb. 18, 2018, before the Pats take on the Moose Jaw Warriors.

“This jersey retirement is long overdue,” said Pats President Todd Lumbard in a news release. “Jock was a dominant player in our league and is one of the greatest Pats of all time.”

Being from the Queen City, it was always his goal to play for the hometown team. When he first laced up the skates for the team, he never thought he’d see his name hanging from the rafters.

Jock Callander celebrates winning the 1992 Stanley Cup with his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates. (Callander family)

“You look at the guys that are up there and it’s pretty high standards,” Callander said.

He was planning on playing in the alumni game as a part of Pats Homecoming Weekend and thought that was what they were originally calling about.

“When they told me, it kind of threw me through a loop, it’s a big honour and it took a while for it to sink in,” Callander said.

Callander played for the Pats from 1978-1982, putting up 158 goals and 210 assists for 368 points in just 201 games. He sits sixth all-time in franchise scoring, his 158 goals are tied for seventh all-time and the 210 assists are sixth best in franchise history.

His best season came in 1981-82 when he won the Bob Clark Trophy as the WHL leading scorer with 190 points in 71 games.

Callander was a member of the Pats last WHL Championship club in 1980 and appeared in the Memorial Cup. In 49 career WHL playoff games, he scored 27 goals and had 66 points.

He said one of the major things he learned while playing for the Pats was how important it was to have a winning culture.

“It helped me as a pro, ended up playing on a lot of winning teams playing as a pro and I think just learning from the Pats was big for that.”

Jock Callander holds the Stanley Cup after winning it in the 1992 season. (Callander family)

Callander went on to play professionally for 18 years after his Pats career, winning a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.