WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Trying to Stay Positive Despite Lack of Success in Injury-Plagued Season

April 15, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


It's been a dreary and monotonous WHL season for the Red Deer Rebels, but to their credit no one is waving a white towel.

"It's been a grind," veteran winger Josh Tarzwell said this week. "We're doing everything we can. Everybody's trying to stay positive, doing the same stuff we're always doing, trying to make it work.

"It's not easy with four defencemen."

The Rebels have been ravaged by injuries, losing captain and promising centre Jayden Grubbe to a damaged knee early in the season and then having their defensive corps reduced to a quartet of skaters.

Forward Jace Isley has been converted to a defender in recent games, but the lack of bodies on the back end has clearly contributed to a nine-game losing streak that has resulted in a 2-12-2-0 record.

"Isser's done a great job heading back and playing D, but it's a grind," said Tarzwell, who's currently on the injury list, day-to-day with a lower body ailment

"Honestly, if we had our normal lineup we wouldn't be in the situation we're in right now. If we had been healthy all year it would be a completely different situation."

Tarzwell, along with a list of veterans including Chris Douglas, Arshdeep Bains, Ben King and netminder Ethan Anders, have taken it upon themselves to maintain a positive attitude on and off the ice.

The Red Deer native said he and his older teammates welcome the responsibility of keeping their younger teammates motivated.

"One hundred per cent. We're doing it, Dougie, me, Arsh, even Kinger . . . he's 18 but he's been in the league three years. Andy, same thing . . . all the 19-year-olds," said Tarzwell.

"I'm not in the lineup right now but I'm really trying to help as much as I can to keep the energy up."

The six-foot-one, 205-pound forward admitted the players have been adjusting to the recent resignation of long-time head coach and team owner/president and GM Brent Sutter.

Assistant GM Shaun Sutter joined assistant coaches Ryan Colville and Brad Flynn on the bench for Monday's game in Lethbridge and will remain as part of the coaching staff through the duration of the season ending May 7.

"It's new for everyone but Brent is still such a big part of the team. You still know what he wants and how he wants us to play and everything," said Tarzwell.

"Shaun's been great stepping in . . . it can't be easy after Brent has been doing it for so long. But all the boys really respect him. I haven't played a game under him yet but from what the guys have said they really like it so far.

"He's out there running practice now and even with all that's going on and the injuries, he's preaching the importance of staying positive and that good stuff is going to happen."

Tarzwell enjoyed a career season last year, sniping 32 goals. He's currently third in team scoring with eight points including a team best six goals.

Acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes during the 2017-18 season, Tarzwell had appeared in 13 of the Rebels' 16 games this season. He was injured during an April 3 contest in Edmonton and has appeared in just one game since, last Saturday when he scored once in a 6-3 loss to the visiting Hurricanes.

"I couldn't really skate that well in that game," he said. "When I've been healthy I've been really happy with my game.

"It took a couple weeks for most guys to get back into it after not playing for a year. But I've been building off it and hopefully I can pick up on it again this weekend."

The Rebels will engage the Medicine Hat Tigers in a three-game set starting Friday on the road. From there, the teams will clash on Saturday at the Centrium and back in Medicine Hat on Monday.

"I'm not sure if I'll play this weekend. I haven't skated yet this week. It's not feeling too good right now," said Tarzwell. "We'll see how it's feeling on Friday."

In any case, only eight games are remaining on the Rebels' schedule and the players will continue to grind through.

"That's all we can do. We just have to keep working and things will go our way," said Tarzwell.

"We only have less than a month left so you can count the days or make the days count."

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2021


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