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Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Rookie Defenceman Sedoff Growing His Game

January 24, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Skating alongside and competing against the cream of the crop, Red Deer Rebels defenceman Christoffer Sedoff is confident that he showcased himself well.

"It was a great experience, playing against the best players from across the CHL," the Finnish WHL rookie said Friday, in reference to last week's CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Hamilton.

"I think I played very well. Not that much offence, but I played good D."

Sedoff got into the game as Central Scouting's 50th-ranked player among North American skaters eligible for June's NHL entry draft.

He admitted he hasn't paid that much attention to or put too much stock in the ranking.

"Not really, there is much left of the season," said the six-foot-one, 189-pound defender. "I think I can improve on the ranking but I really don't think about that. I just try and do my best on the ice."

His best has been - in the past two months in particular - impressive. With the departure of former captain Dawson Barteaux, traded to the Winnipeg Ice two weeks ago, Sedoff and veteran Ethan Sakowich are the Rebels' top two defencemen.

He, like the club's other younger rearguards, struggled at times early in the season but his game has improved leaps and bounds in recent weeks.

"I think the year has gone very well this far, adjusting to the smaller ice and adjusting to the lifestyle here in Canada," said Sedoff. "My two-way game, just all around defending, has improved a lot."

The Rebels selected Sedoff 25th overall in last year's CHL import draft. He played for a junior A team in his hometown of Helsinki last season and has also represented Finland on the international stage, suiting up for the Hlinka Gretzky tournament in Red Deer in 2018 and playing in the World U17 championship the same year.

As he noted, getting accustomed to life in North America was the biggest obstacle Sedoff faced after arriving in Red Deer in August.

"Maybe just the language and the ice surface. There have not been really any other differences," he said, explaining that he studied the English language at school in Finland.

Sedoff has been granted a fair share of ice time by the Red Deer coaching staff. He certainly has no complaints in that regard and the confidence shown in him by the coaches has allowed him to display an offensive touch.

"I've had lots of ice time and I have been better at offence just every day," said the 17-year-old (he turns 18 next month), who has scored three goals and added 15 assists in 43 games.

"I like them (coaches). They are pushing me every day in practice and in the games."

The Rebels head into Saturday's contest versus the visiting Calgary Hitmen on somewhat of a mini-roll. Red Deer earned three of four points in their previous two outings last weekend, losing in overtime at Lethbridge and posting a come-from-behind shootout win over visiting Prince Albert.

"I'm excited for the rest of the season. We have a good group of guys and we are getting better through the season," said Sedoff.

Rebels vs. Calgary Hitmen

Saturday, 7 p.m., Centrium

The Hitmen are 6-4-0-0 in their last 10 games and occupy fourth spot in the Central Division with a 23-15-4-1 record. Calgary sits seventh in the Eastern Conference . . . Toronto Maple Leafs prospect C Riley Stotts leads all Hitmen point producers with 44, including 19 goals. Ottawa Senators prospect C Mark Kastelic is next with 40 points, including 21 goals, in just 37 games. Next on the list are LW Orca Weisblatt (15-24-39), C Carson Focht (22-15-37) and D Jet Woo (6-21-27). Egor Zamula also contributed from the blueline with 28 points (7-21) but is out for the season (three to four months) with a lower body injury . . . Rookie G Brayden Peters has posted a WHL ninth-best goals against average of 2.43 plus a .909 save percentage and a 8-9-2 record. Jack McNaughton is 14-5-1 with a GAA of 3.26 and save percentage of .881 . . . Stotts was selected by the Leafs in the third round of the 2018 NHL entry draft and Kastelic was taken by Ottawa in the fifth round last year. In addition, Woo was picked by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the 2018 draft and Focht is another Canucks prospect, taken in the fifth round in 2019.

Injuries - Calgary: D Andrew Viggars (upper body, day-to-day), D Egor Zamula (lower body, 3-4 months), F Kyle Olson (lower body, day-to-day). Red Deer: D Kevin Masters (lower body, week-to-week), D Chase Leslie (upper body, week-to-week).

Special teams - Calgary: Power play 22.2 per cent, fifth overall; penalty kill 78 per cent, 13th. Red Deer: Power play 17 per cent, 18th overall; penalty kill 76.5 per cent, 17th.

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