Hagel Confident Rebels Will Create - and Finish - More Scoring Chances in Short Order
September 27, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
The opening-weekend butterflies are history, and for that reason, Brandon Hagel insisted Thursday, the Red Deer Rebels should be an improved team as they search for their first victory of the 2018-19 WHL season.
"The first weekend, obviously, there were nerves for everyone. I've been here for four years and I still get nervous the first weekend," said the Rebels veteran forward, looking back on a pair of losses to the Edmonton Oil Kings last Friday and Saturday.
"I feel like with this week of practice and knowing we've already been through a couple of games going into this weekend . . . we should be all right. It's a big weekend."
Indeed it is, with the Calgary Hitmen invading the Centrium Friday, the Swift Current Broncos paying a visit 24 hours later and the Hitmen entertaining the Rebels Sunday afternoon.
The Rebels started the season 0-2 mainly due to the fact they couldn't bury the majority of their scoring chances, potting three goals in total - two by Alex Alexeyev and the other courtesy of fellow Russian Oleg Zaytsev . Granted, those chances were not plentiful, but Hagel is confident the offensive opportunities will increase and pay off this weekend.
"I think we have more than enough in this dressing room. We have a lot of offence in this room," he insisted. "We have a lot of skilled hockey players. If we just work hard everything is going to be OK."
Hagel is wearing an 'A' on his jersey this season as one of three alternate captains - the other two being Alexeyev and fellow defenceman Dawson Barteaux - to official on-ice leader Reese Johnson.
A leadership role is something the Morinville native embraces.
"Being a 20-year-old, I have to lead the way. If us older guys, our leadership group, are in line, we're going to have no problems every night," said Hagel.
The left winger joined the Rebels early in the 2015-16 season after starting with the junior A Whitecourt Wolverines that fall. He scored 13 goals and collected 47 points in 72 regular season games, contributed another 10 points (1g,9a) in 17 playoff contests and had one assist in four Memorial Cup contests.
Hagel, in turn, was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL entry draft, returned to the Rebels in the fall and went on to pot 31 goals and garner 71 points in his sophomore season.
He attended a pair of Sabres training camps, in '16 and '17, but wasn't offered a contract by the NHL club last spring after putting up 59 points (18g,41a) points in 56 regular-season games and six more, including five goals, in the playoffs during the '17-18 campaign.
Hagel played in a prospects tournament in early September after being offered a tryout by the Montreal Canadiens, then returned to Red Deer for his fourth and final WHL season.
"Everywhere I've been, it's been incredible. It's the NHL, the best level there is," he said. "But just going somewhere new was a really, really good experience.
"Now I'm excited for this season. I just have to do what I can this year and it starts now."
After picking up an assist last weekend, Hagel is at least off to a decent start to the season. That wasn't necessarily the case last year, although the six-foot-one, 173-pound forward flourished during the final three months.
"My consistency has to be really huge this year," he said. "I don't know what it is with the starts to my seasons, but I have to focus on that this year and I think I can do that
"There's a lot on my shoulders, not just with the leadership, and I know what I need to do for something (another pro opportunity) to turn up at the end of the year."
Despite coming up empty in their home-opener versus the Oil Kings last Saturday, general manager/head coach Brent Sutter was impressed with his club's hustle.
Hagel was also more than OK with that part of the Rebels' game.
"Our work ethic was incredible," he said. "Everyone was working, working, working.
"We didn't bury on our chances but that's going to come. There's still 66 more games, we have lots of time, and this week of practice is definitely going to help us out as well. Everyone being together for another full week before a game is really going to help."
Western Hockey League Stories from September 27, 2018
- ICE Announce $180,000 up for Grabs in Shoot-To-Win Contest Presented by AC Dyck Financial Services - Kootenay Ice
- Wheat Kings Deal Bettens to Hawks - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pink the Rink Coming Up - Everett Silvertips
- Winterhawks Acquire Rylan Bettens from Wheat Kings - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Head North for a Weekend Visit with the Cougars - Kelowna Rockets
- Hagel Confident Rebels Will Create - and Finish - More Scoring Chances in Short Order - Red Deer Rebels
- Winterhawks and Toyota Launch New Amazon Alexa Fan Feature - Portland Winterhawks
- 2018 Prince Albert Kinsmen/Raiders Sportsperson of the Year - Prince Albert Raiders
- ICE Acquire '99-Born Forward Brendan Semchuk - Kootenay Ice
- Swift Current Deals Elder to Calgary Hitmen - Swift Current Broncos
- Hitmen Acquire Kaden Elder from Swift Current - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Trade Forward Brendan Semchuk to the Kootenay Ice - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Downed by Prince George, 4-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Oil Kings Outlast Tigers 3-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
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