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WHL Red Deer Rebels

Herauf Has Taken Big Strides Since Attending Penguins Training Camp

October 25, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Clearly, Jacob Herauf is not a sulker.

The Red Deer Rebels defenceman was passed over in June's NHL entry draft despite being ranked as a possible late-round pick by Central Scouting. Undaunted, he attended the Pittsburgh Penguins rookie camp in September as a free agent and returned to Red Deer with a learned attitude that has made him visibly a better player.

"They just harped so much on details," he said Thursday. "Everything there is just a pro mentality and I guess I've kind of brought that here with me.

"Guys there are fighting for jobs. That's their job, that's what they make money doing. I'm not making a pro salary. This is me having fun.

"They're competing for jobs and what I took out of that is just how hard they work each and every day, their attention to details and how professional they act all the time."

Herauf was a first-round WHL bantam draft pick of the Rebels in 2015 and contributed five assists in 37 games with the Rebels as a 16-year-old rookie in the '16-17 season.

The six-foot, 186-pound blueliner appeared in 70 games the following season, scoring twice and adding 16 helpers and this fall has garnered one goal and five assists in 13 outings.

The Sherwood Park product has taken his game to another level this season, which he anticipated doing all along.

"With it being my third year and being 18 years old, I expect a lot out of myself and I know the coaches and my teammates do as well," he said. "I feel like I've developed and that I still have a lot more to do."

He's currently playing alongside Washington Capitals first-round NHL draft pick Alex Alexeyev on the Rebels first blueline pairing and credits the Russian rearguard - and the fact he sees power play time - for helping him realize a new measure of success.

"I enjoy playing with Alex, I like having that responsibility," said Herauf. "I try not to think about it too much, I don't really think of it as first line, second line, third line. I think everyone on our 'D' is capable of playing first line or playing those top minutes.

"I look at it as I'm playing with Alex and I'm matched up against a so-and-so line. I'm enjoying it. I think I've settled into it pretty well."

While he was held pointless in Wednesday's 4-1 loss at Medicine Hat, Herauf assisted on two goals in each of the previous two games, including two by Alexeyev.

"I know if I give him the puck that it's going to end up one of our sticks, whether it's mine, I don't know," said Herauf of his blueline partner. "I have nothing but good things to say about him. The other night I gave him the puck and he did the rest, he did all the work.

"He went first round for a reason and he's going to play professional hockey next year. He sees plays differently than a lot of guys, especially at this level. He does stuff that I wouldn't think of doing, He's high risk, but high reward. He likes starting and joining the rush and skating with the puck. He's solid defensively too, he's not a defensive liability."

Thanks in part to the play of Herauf and Alexeyev, a forward group led by veteran Brandon Hagel and a solid, consistent performance from No. 1 netminder Ethan Anders, the Rebels have perhaps raised a few eyebrows with their early season play and Central Division leading record of 8-4-1-0.

"I'm not really surprised," said Herauf. "I knew coming into camp we were going to have a strong team and we were going to have a young team.

"I guess the one concern I had was scoring. That's what everyone was wondering but that's obviously not been an issue for us.

"Everybody on our team is capable of playing in this league and are good players. I'm not surprised how we're doing and I think we can be better for sure."

Scouting Report

Rebels vs. Saskatoon Blades

Friday, 7 p.m., Centrium

Saskatoon is coming off a 3-0 home-ice loss to the Everett Silvertips Wednesday and is 5-4-1-0 in the last 10 games. The Blades own a record of 8-4-1-0 and sit second in the East Division and are tied with Red Deer for second spot in the Eastern Conference . . . C Kirby Dach has scored seven goals and garnered a team-leading 22 points and is tied for third in WHL scoring with Brandon Hagel of the Rebels and Trey-Fix Wolansky of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Next on the Saskatoon scoring list are D Dawson Davidson (4-15-19), C Eric Florchuk (4-10-14) and RW Max Gerlach (7-6-13), who recorded a hat trick in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Rebels Oct. 12 in Saskatoon . . . Blades No. 1 goaltender Nolan Maier has posted a 7-4-0 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. Dorian Lumby has appeared in three games (143 minutes played) and is 1-0-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .940 save percentage . . . Florchuk and import LW Kristian Roykas Marthinsen were each selected by Washington in the seventh round of the 2018 NHL entry draft.

Injuries: Saskatoon - D Jake Kustra (lower body, 5-7 weeks), D Seth Bafaro (upper body, day-to-day). Red Deer - None to report.

Special teams: Saskatoon - Power play 21.5 per cent, 16th overall; penalty kill 78.3 per cent, 10th. Red Deer - Power play 24.4 per cent, seventh overall; penalty kill 74.5 per cent, 15th.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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