Sass Ready to Bring Steadying Influence Back to Rebels Blueline After Missing Four Games with Injury
October 18, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
Red Deer Rebels defenceman Carson Sass suffered niggling injuries during his rookie WHL season and despite the fact he's missed just the last four games due to an upper body injury, it's been a new - and unwelcome - experience.
Sass sat out eight games during the 2000-16 season and after playing all 72 games last winter, had to feel that any injury problems were perhaps behind him.
But after being knocked heavily into the end boards during a Sept. 30 game in Calgary - an infraction that cost the Hitmen a major penalty and then a three-game suspension to Tristen Nielsen - Sass has been idle.
"Two years ago I missed some games with minor injuries, day-to-day stuff, so something like this is a little new," he said Thursday. "It doesn't seem like it's been three weeks but the calendar says it has, so it's definitely a little bit different."
Luckily, the Rebels have only played a foursome of contests during the 18 days Sass has been sidelined and the 19-year-old blueliner could return to action as early as Friday when the team takes on the host Edmonton Oil Kings.
"I'm hoping to be back Friday, that's the plan," said the Melville native.
Added GM/head coach Brent Sutter: "We'll see how he does in practice today. If he looks OK I would expect him back in the lineup tomorrow night."
Now in his third season with the Rebels, the Melville, Sask., native is one of the older Red Deer rearguards. With that comes an added responsibility of providing leadership.
"Every year makes a difference, you're a year older and that's when you get the extra stuff put on you," he said. "But you can't really look at it that way, you have to go out there and play, have some fun and do your best."
The 188-pound Sass, who stands a shade over six feet, scored five goals and collected 16 points in 64 games during his rookie season, and last season contributed one goal and 10 points in 72 outings.
He admitted his primary aim is to take care of his own end with a solid defensive game.
"I'm not going to put up a whole lot of points, but I try my best to keep goals out and make sure that my plus/minus is fairly good," he said.
Sutter appreciates the defensive strengths that Sass provides.
"He's a steadying influence, a steady guy," said the Rebels boss. "We started using him on the power play before he got hurt and he's always been a good penalty killer.
"He's an experienced defenceman and whenever you take out one of those experienced guys who have been in the league for awhile you worry about it."
Sass was paired with Dallas Stars prospect Dawson Barteaux prior to being injured and felt it was a perfect fit, with Sass holding down the back end while his partner excelled at puck movement.
"Plus he's our only right-handed defenceman and it's always nice to have a lefty and a righty play together," said Sass. "I like playing with Barts, he's a good player. He's a drafted guy who's very deserving."
Sass stressed that he's a player who prefers to keep pressure off himself while enjoying the task at hand. For that reason, he's been impressed with and appreciative of new assistant coach Brad Flynn, who works with the defensive corps.
"He keeps it loose and that's what I like," said the veteran defender. "Hockey sometimes gets very serious so I think when you have a guy like that to calm it down a bit you can have some fun on the ice. He's not a big yeller so that makes it nice, for sure."
The Rebels, who host the Kootenay Ice Saturday at the Centrium, are off to a respectable start this fall with a 5-3-1-0 record. Sass sees no reason why the club can't sustain - or exceed - that pace.
"We have a young team but that doesn't matter. If we keep playing the way we are we're going to find success," he stated. "If we work hard and play the systems that Brent has put in for us, goals and offence will come.
"And we (players) are all good friends off the ice so that makes a big difference too."
Sass could return to the Rebels next season as a 20-year-old. He doesn't have any set plans for beyond the 2019-20 season, but admitted he could lean towards playing at the university level.
"The WHL offers scholarships, so I'd have four years of school funds," he said. "That would be something I'd want to pursue to get a degree."
While Sutter appreciates the savvy that Sass provides, he's been happy with the contributions made by the likes of Hunter Donohoe and rookie Chase Leslie, both of whom have played more minutes in Sass's absence.
"Donohoe and Leslie, as a 16-year-old, have done what we expected of them," said Sutter. "And Gotts (rookie Ryan Gottfried) got in the other night in Prince Albert and played extremely well.
"We have eight defencemen here that we're satisfied with as far as whoever is in the lineup that night can do a good job for us. Unfortunately there's going to be one or two sitting out every night.
"But we've found out over the years, as all teams have, that you have to keep extra defencemen around because it's a long year and injuries are going to happen. Right now we have eight defencemen who we're very comfortable with."
Western Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2018
- Sass Ready to Bring Steadying Influence Back to Rebels Blueline After Missing Four Games with Injury - Red Deer Rebels
- Hitmen to Host Roughnecks Night - Calgary Hitmen
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