WHL Red Deer Rebels

Brigley's Smarts, Hockey Sense Evident During Rookie Season

February 15, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Talon Brigley understood he wouldn't just be handed a starting role coming into his rookie season with the Red Deer Rebels.

The 16-year-old from Sylvan Lake had to prove he deserved a spot on the team and not be sent back to the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs U18AAA program.

"Coming into camp I worked as hard as I could as I didn't want to be sent back to midget ... I wanted to stay, and I felt I could," Brigley explained on Tuesday.

He did just that. He has the speed and hockey sense to play with anyone in the WHL and those ingredients have made him a reliable penalty killer, a role you don't often see younger players entrusted with.

"Despite being a 16-year-old, I think I'm trustworthy and I found my spot early on in practice and showed what I could do in that situation.

"My dad (Travis) was a big penalty killer when he was my age and obviously when he turned pro that was his specialty and I learned from him."

Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk feels comfortable with Brigley playing that role.

"He does a real good job as far as structure and details with or without the puck ... he's smart, reliable and can trust him defensively which is nice, and he's developed into a good penalty killer.

"He has the smarts and hockey sense, two ingredients you need for that."

Add to that a skill level which saw him score 54 points in 56 games with the Red Deer Rebels U15AAA program. He was drafted in the second round, 24th overall, by the Rebels following his second year with the U15AAA squad.

"He has the skill and at some point, he'll put up good numbers," added Konowalchuk.

Brigley, who turns 17 on Wednesday, has two goals and four assists in 39 games this season. His first goal was a shorthanded game winner at Regina. He also scored a shootout winner at Saskatoon.

"That first goal was kind of cool," he said. "I don't think about that, but I go out there for my minute or 30 second shift and try to do what I can to produce, block a shot ... do what I can to give the guys some confidence."

Brigley isn't the biggest guy on the team, listed at five-foot-10, 155-pounds, but doesn't let that bother him.

"The way I play the game doesn't matter how small I am I try out there. I don't care how big the other guy is I just do what I can to help the team."

He need look no further than five-foot-eight, 168-pound winger Jhett Larson to see that size doesn't matter. Larson is a major contributor on the first line with Arshdeep Bains and Ben King, two of the premier scorers in the league.

"He has the skill and shows what he can do. He plays with two of the best guys in the league which is great for him," said Brigley of Larson. "I watch him and feel I can progress to his level one day."

"Larson plays hard every day and he's a good player for Talon to watch," agreed Konowalchuk.

Brigley has missed just eight of the teams 47 games this season.

"The season's been good so far ... I'm staying in the lineup, haven't been scratched for awhile so it's been good."

He admits he's continually working on his game and learning.

"I feel I still have a lot to work on, a lot of little things, but I trust what the coaches see. They see more and can critique my game."

Brigley should be in the Rebels lineup for several years to come and down the road follow in his dad's footsteps and play the pro game.

"But that's not really on my mind," he said.

As of now he's only concentrating on helping the Rebels battle toward a WHL championship.

They sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 29-15-2-1 record.

"We have a good, solid group of guys and we know we can do something special this year," he said.

The Rebels continue a five-game home stand Friday at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium versus Saskatoon. They face Winnipeg Saturday and Edmonton Tuesday before clashing with Prince Albert Feb. 25 and Regina Feb. 26.

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