Regina and Red Deer make deal

The Regina Pats have acquired RW J.D. Watt, 20, from the Red Deer Rebels in a four-player trade made New Year’s Day. Regina gets Watt, RW Scott Doucet, 19, and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft for C Cody Gross, 18, RW Brett Miller, 16, and a third-round pick in the 2009 bantam draft.
Watt, in his fourth WHL season, has 15 points in 29 games with the Rebels. Last season, he had 34 goals with the Memorial Cup-champion Vancouver Giants and the Pats are certainly hoping he can get back to that level of play. He fills the third 20-year-old spot on Regina’s roster.
Doucet, in his fourth season, has also played with the Prince Albert Raiders. He has 19 points in 40 games with Red Deer.
Gross has nine points in 37 games with Regina after playing 55 games with Prince Albert last season.
Miller is with the midget AAA Saskatoon Blazers. The Pats’ first pick in the 2006 bantam draft has 32 points in 25 games.
It’s safe to say that the Pats, who are 24-15-1-1, have fired the first volley prior to the trade deadline. They have gotten older, bigger and more physical. Regina began the day as the Eastern Conference’s second seed, with 50 points, three behind the Calgary Hitmen.