(Image Credit: Brooks Bandits)

By Jesse Gill

Sports

Brooks Bandits ship out a former Tigers player in deal for a former OHL defenceman

Feb 6, 2026 | 9:43 AM

The BCHL’s Brooks Bandits have acquired 2005-born defenceman Tanner Winegard from the Langley Rivermen for 2006-born defenceman Krists Retenais and 2005-born forward Brett Calhoon.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Winegard has appeared in 90 Ontario Hockey League games with the Windsor Spitfires.

This season with the Rivermen, he has 24 points, including six goals, over 38 games.

Winegard played with the Canadian team at the BCHL All-Star Game this year.

With the Bandits over two seasons, Retenais has 14 points in 47 games.

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The former Bandits alternate captain has also played 10 games for Team Latvia at the IIHF World Junior Championship over the last two years.

A former Medicine Hat Tigers player, Calhoon had one point in 14 games with the Bandits this season, but hasn’t appeared in a game since Jan. 13.

He also played a pair of games with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels to start the season.

Calhoon played 120 WHL regular-season games spread across four seasons.

He was also a member of the South Alberta Hockey Academy team during the 2022-23 season that won the Circle K Classic.

Bandits head coach Dakota Mason reflected on the trade.

“It’s never easy moving players, especially when they’re such quality people like Brett and Krists,” Mason said.

“Krists was a big part of our championship run last season and will be a Fred Page Cup champion forever.”

Mason is enthusiastic about the player coming back in the deal.

“We couldn’t be more excited to add a player and person like Tanner,” Mason said.

“He checks a ton of boxes for us, and I know Bandits fans will love his style of hockey. He is another tremendous person we are adding to our locker room and community.”

The Bandits visit the Okotoks Oilers on Friday for a 7:05 p.m. contest at the Viking Rentals Centre.

Last weekend, the Bandits dropped an overtime contest to the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Saturday, winning over the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday.

The Oilers are fifth in the Interior East Division with a 16-18-1-1 record.

The Bandits hold down second spot with a 22-11-4-1 record, five points back of the Bulldogs for top spot in the division, with a game in hand.

Bandits forward Michael Kucherawy spoke about a few keys to victory over the Oilers.

“We just have got to be strong in the defensive zone,” said Kucherawy.

“And our power play, we have been working on it. I already know they’re going to score.”