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WHL Red Deer Rebels

Sexsmith Eager to Fit in with Rebuilding Rebels

September 4, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


It didn't take long for Joel Sexsmith to adjust to his new surroundings.

"Trades are tough in any situation," the Red Deer Rebels defenceman said Wednesday, just five days after being acquired from the Vancouver Giants.

"I enjoyed my time out in Vancouver and I really feel that it's a special place and always will be. But I'm looking forward to the opportunity here in Red Deer. I'm close to home and I think we have a great group of guys.

"As soon as I got here I had guys shaking my hand and the staff was super welcoming, so it's definitely something to look forward to and I think the future here is bright."

With the acquisition of the 17-year-old Sexsmith, the Rebels added to their stable of promising young rearguards. The current Red Deer roster features seven defencemen 17 and younger, all of whom are stong skaters with plenty of promise.

"Absolutely, we have a lot of young guys and some I've played with over the years," said Sexsmith. "It's a really good group to look forward to as a fan and as a player.

"With such a young group and such strong leadership in the veteran group, we can really mold together a pretty awesome team here in the future and hopefully this year as well."

The Edmonton native was selected ninth overall by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2017 Western Hockey League bantam draft and was dealt to Vancouver in January of 2018.

He suited up for five games with the Giants as a 15-year-old and was enrolled in two hockey academies that season - Northern Alberta X-Treme and Edge School.

Sexsmith played just one game with the Giants last season due to an injury that limited him to 15 games with the Delta Hockey Academy. He scored five goals and collected 12 points with the midget prep team.

He's clearly come to terms with the lower body injury.

"It's still something I'm recovering from but it's something you have to deal with in sports," said the six-foot-one, 185-pound blueliner. "Obviously there are some injuries that are tougher than others to deal with. This is one that I never really thought would be in the cards but I have to deal with the hand I was dealt.

"I'm looking forward to being back on the ice and being a part of the organization. Being given this opportunity to play here I can put that (injury) in the past and just worry about being a player and a good person for now."

Sexsmith returned to his hometown Tuesday night as a member of the Rebels and recorded two shots on goal in a 5-2 preseason loss to the host Oil Kings.

"I got to see some friends and my parents," he said. "It was really pleasant, a perk I didn't have when in was in Vancouver.

"Being away from home is tough but something you have to deal with. Now that I'm much closer to home it's nice that I'll be able to see my mom for weekend games and be able to still be a part of where I'm from. I'm an Alberta boy at heart so I'm super happy to be a Red Deer Rebel."

Sexsmith sees himself as a two-way defenceman with the ability to adjust to the situation at hand.

"I played with Kyle Masters last night. He's a pretty offensive guy so I had to play defence," said Sexsmith. "He's a guy I played with in the past, I played peewee with him so I know his game.

"I know how to kind of tailor my game to do what's best for the team and if I need to contribute offensively I'm going to do that. If I just have to play a stay at home style I'm going to do that as well.

"Whatever the team asks of me, I'm going to do."

Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter got an up-close look at Sexsmith in game action Tuesday and sees the young defender as a promising project.

"He's going to just be a real stready guy, a smart player," said the Rebels boss. "We'll work with him on some things. He's still a young player with a lot to learn.

"He'll get better, he'll improve. He's just like all these young kids new to the league who have plenty to learn with game preparation and practice habits and all that stuff.

"But that's all part of the teaching process with these young players."

The Rebels return to preseason action Friday when they host the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the Centrium. Red Deer pays a return visit to Lethbridge Saturday.

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