Sakowich and Sass Get Sneak Preview
March 10, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
They are like apprentices without a practicum course.
Sort of.
Defencemen Ethan Sakowich and Carson Sass are soaking in the atmosphere surrounding the Red Deer Rebels and are practising with the WHL team on a daily basis.
Neither player will get into a game unless the Rebels are bitten hard by the injury bug, but both are enjoying the experience of being around a team in the regular-season homestretch with the playoffs beckoning.
"For sure, it's a great experience to come in here and even just practising with the team is great," said Sass, prior to a practice session Thursday at the Centrium.
"It's a lot different than (midget) triple A in Saskatchewan. It's a lot faster and I guess you could say it's more structured, more intense. It's just been a good experience so far."
Sass, a native of Melville, Sask., enjoyed a strong 2015-16 season with the midget AAA Yorkton Maulers. His offensive numbers, in particular, stand out in comparison to the previous winter.
"I thought I had a good year, but it's a team sport so my teammates helped me out throughout the whole year to bring up my offensive game and everything like that," said Sass, who scored eight goals and collected 24 points in 43 games as opposed to five points (1-4) in 39 outings the previous campaign.
"I give full credit to them and my coaches . . . the whole organization back in Saskatchewan was great for me this year."
The Rebels annually bring in prime prospects whose seasons have expired in late February or early March. The Maulers had five playoff games this spring, while Sakowich and his midget AAA Fort Saskatchewan Rangers didn't qualify for the post-season.
"It's a big experience factor for these kids, being around all of this and seeing things off the ice," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. "This gives them the opportunity to train here the right way under our direction."
Both players - and they will be joined by forward Akash Bains of the Delta Hockey Academy next week - are in Red Deer for the duration of the Rebels' season, which will conclude with the Memorial Cup tournament in late May. Their high school studies have been transferred to Hunting Hills and they will work online with their schools in their hometowns.
"They'll leave here when the season is over in May and they'll already have a plan going into the summer," said Sutter. "When they come back next fall they'll know how things work here and how they are done.
"It would be a much different place next fall if they just came in without this experience. We think it's really important for them because they're all going to be important players for us moving forward."
As Sutter noted, both defencemen, as well as Bains, are expected to play full-time with the Rebels next season.
"That's the plan," said the six-foot-one, 175-pound Sass, who will celebrate his 17th birthday in May. "So this is a nice learning curve which kind of introduces me to everything."
Sakowich, who was selected by the Rebels in the third round of the 2014 WHL bantam draft, one spot before the team nabbed Sass, isn't a total stranger to the club. He played through the preseason last fall and then appeared in three WHL regular-season contests before being reassigned to Fort Saskatchewan.
"It's a little different coming here now," said the six-foot-one, 170-pound rearguard. "I know where I stand. I know the people - the guys and the coaches - way better now so it's easier coming in now.
"So far I've already learned so much from going onto the ice . . . learning new skills and stuff. It's also been really nice being part of the winning atmosphere here."
The 17-year-old Athabasca native put up some impressive offensive numbers during the 2015-16 Alberta Midget Hockey League campaign.
"My offensive game kind of stepped up this year," said Sakowich, who improved from zero goals and five assists in '14-15 to eight goals and 32 points in 30 games this past season.
"We didn't have the greatest team but I had a bigger role to fill. My role was to produce some points from the blueline and I was lucky enough to do pretty well at it, actually."
Western Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2016
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- Royals to Host Playoff Games on March 25th & 26th - Victoria Royals
- Jarrod Daniel Honored with Chiefs' Scholastic Alumni Achievement Award - Spokane Chiefs
- Sakowich and Sass Get Sneak Preview - Red Deer Rebels
- Top 50 WHL Players of All-Time: Leach, Allison, Hodgson Named to List by Fans - WHL
- Blazers Return to the Postseason - Kamloops Blazers
- WHL Playoff Tickets on Sale Tomorrow - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars to Host Game #1 of the 2016 Canada Russia Series - Prince George Cougars
- Prince George, Edmonton to Host WHL Leg of 2016 CHL Canada Russia Series - WHL
- 2016 CHL Canada Russia Series Stopping in Edmonton - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blazers Beat Chiefs 3-2, Clinch Playoff Spot - Kamloops Blazers
- Rockets Edge Cougars 3-2 in Shootout Thriller - Kelowna Rockets
- Chiefs Can't Overcome Early Deficit, Lose 3-2 - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Big Win - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hockey Hounds Game Worn Jersey Draw March. 11 - Medicine Hat Tigers
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