WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Bench Boss Impressed with Veterans, Rookies in Camp

Published on August 30, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Red Deer Rebels Brent Sutter expressed a sense of satisfaction Friday with the team's training camp winding down.

"I really liked our camp, to be quite honest," he said. "The way everything went and the flow and how all the players came to camp in outstanding shape . . . you just feel like you are ahead of the curve with the condition the players are in.

"The younger kids have played well and our veterans have all been good. There hasn't been anybody who hasn't played at the level we expect from him."

All in all, Sutter was heartened by what he witnessed in both main and rookie camps.

As for main camp . . .

"It's early obviously, but that being said it's good to see some encouraging signs with the young kids and the veterans," Sutter stated. "It's been positive right down the line."

Rookie camp has also featured a high level of talent, evidenced by the fact that a total of eight 15- and 16-year-old players - defencemen Jace Weir and Hunter Mayo and forwards Carter Anderson, Connor Poffenroth, Hunter Brown, Parker Lalonde, Jhett Larson and Declan Cosford - were moved up to the main camp Thursday and Friday. They will join the original main camp players in Saturday's Black and White intrasquad game, set for 11 a.m. at the Centrium.

"Rookie camp has been really good. Our scouts did a great job at the draft table again this year," said Sutter. "Our 15-year-olds are good players and with our 16-year-old situation . . . we've had some top-end guys in main camp and the rest have been very good too."

After numerous players are reassigned following the Black and White game, the Rebels will open their preseason schedule Tuesday against the host Edmonton Oil Kings.

"After Tuesday's game we'll get down closer to about 30 guys and we can go from there," said Sutter.

Red Deer's WHL regular-season opener is set for Sept. 21 against the Oil Kings and the Rebels boss won't be harbouring a large roster at that point.

"There's a chance we'll be carrying 13 to 14 players 17 and younger," said Sutter, adding that it will be the youngest group he's had in his many years as Rebels coach. "They have to play. We don't want an abundance of players around and we'll see how it all shakes out.

"I don't want to start the season with 25 to 28 players. I'd like to get down to the 22 or 23 mark and go with that. The kids who aren't here, we'll make sure they're in the right programs.

"Things can change but we want to make sure everyone here is playing."

The Rebels' exhibition season home-opener is Sept. 6 versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Red Deer will visit Lethbridge the following evening, then close out the preseason with a home game versus the Medicine Hat Tigers Sept. 13 and a road contest against the Calgary Hitmen two days later.

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Western Hockey League Stories from August 30, 2019


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