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WHL Red Deer Rebels

Resurgent Rebels in Good Shape as Christmas Break Approaches

December 16, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


So far, so good.

The Red Deer Rebels are trending in the right direction heading into the final two games of their pre-Christmas schedule.

Of course, that's been the case for the large majority of the 2021-22 WHL schedule to this point, as the team has rebounded in a big way from a miserable, pandemic-abbreviated 2020-21 campaign.

The Rebels own a record of 18-9-1-1 and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games as they prepare for a home-and-home with the Calgary Hitmen - Friday at the Peavey Mart Centrium and Sunday at the Saddledome.

The improvements over last season are numerous. The Rebels have taken large leaps in virtually every area, the lone setback being perhaps their tendency to take penalties, but that's also been addressed in a positive manner in recent weeks.

Red Deer not long ago was the No. 1 WHL team in terms of penalty minutes per game, but have shown more discipline in recent weeks and no longer hold that unfavourable distinction.

The reasons for the club's resurgence are multifold.

The goaltending tandem of Connor Ungar and Chase Coward has been well above average; the blueline corps has been strengthened by the reactivation of Christoffer Sedoff (pictured above) plus the maturation of the likes of Jace Weir, Hunter Mayo and Minnesota Wild draft pick Kyle Masters; and the club is deep up front, led by veterans and relative newcomers alike.

Arshdeep Bains has developed into an all-star type winger in his final WHL season and linemate Ben King is scoring at roughly a 40-goal pace. Jhett Larson, the third member of the unit, has seven goals and 13 points as a 17-year-old and is a big part of the club's future.

Kai Uchacz and Blake Stevenson (pictured below) were acquired in July and September, respectively, and have been valuable additions with the former recording 22 points, including nine goals, and the latter accumulating 24, eight of them goals.

Overage forward Liam Keeler has also been a nice addition after being acquired in May and is one of the league's fastest skaters, while captain Jayden Grubbe hasn't put up the numbers he'd like to this point but is a proven leader and gives the Rebels a strong and physical two-way force down the middle.

Speaking of the team's future, it looks bright with burgeoning star forward Kalan Lind, Larson, Mayo, Weir, Carter Anderson and 16-year-olds Matteo Fabrizi - a towering D-man at six-foot-five and 242 pounds - and forward Talon Brigley in the fold. Plus, centre Ollie Josephson could be an impactful player as early as next season based on the 15-year-old's performance in his WHL debut Wednesday.

Josephson was selected fifth overall in last week's WHL Prospects Draft. Second- and third-round picks netminder Chase Wutzke and forward Zane Saab may also push for regular employment next season.

The coaching staff, led by head man Steve Konowalchuk, has undoubtedly played a large role in developing the players and having them prepared for battle, as the Rebels have turned in very few stinkers this season.

The special teams, often a reflection of coaching, have been stellar. The power play is the sixth-best in the entire league and the penalty kill has been even better at fourth overall.

The Rebels are comfortably in second place in the Central Division, five points back of the front-running Edmonton Oil Kings, who have four players on Canada's national junior team and are ranked fifth in the entire CHL.

Times are good and perhaps on the verge of getting better.

Just notes: Former Rebels Zak Smith and Alex Morozoff are excelling as 20-year-olds in the SJHL. Smith who was released in September after three seasons in Red Deer, has 10 goals and 27 points in 26 games with the Flin Flon Bombers. Morozoff is also operating at a point-per-game pace with 14 (6g,8a) in 13 outings with the Humboldt Broncos. He played 94 games with the Rebels from 2017 to 2019 and also played in Saskatoon and Seattle. Both the Bombers and Broncos are among the SJHL's elite teams, with Humboldt sitting first overall . . . On the university front, former Rebel Rylan Toth (2014-16) is the top goaltender in Canada West hockey with a 1.62 goals-against average and .941 save percentage with the first-place UBC Thunderbirds. Toth has played every minute this season. Former Rebels netminder Ethan Anders is also a member of the team. Forward Chris Douglas, who graduated from the major junior ranks as a Rebels assistant captain last spring after five seasons in Red Deer, is also a key member of the T-Birds with seven goals and eight points. Meanwhile, former Rebel and Red Deer native Josh Tarzwell, who also served as an assistant captain last season, is enjoying success with the Mount Royal Cougars with four goals and 10 points in 13 games. Up north, one-time Rebels captain and CIS all-star Grayson Pawlenchuk is fourth in CIS scoring with five goals and 15 points in 12 games with the U of A Golden Bears. Out east, former Rebel forward Jared Dmytriw has 14 points (5-9) with the U of Saskatchewan Huskies and forward Brett Davis is among the leading scorers with the U of Manitoba with 10 points (4-6) in as many games.

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