WHL Red Deer Rebels

Sexsmith Following Advice of Coaching Staff and Playing a Safe But Solid Brand of Hockey

Published on February 26, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Brent Sutter has reminded his younger skaters ad nauseam this season that plays they made in minor hockey can often lead to disaster in the Western Hockey League.

His message, in short: Perform within yourself and make safe and decisive plays with the puck while keeping turnovers to a minimum.

Clearly, the Rebels GM/head coach has a willing and attentive student in defenceman Joel Sexsmith.

"For me, it's been big just to buy into what Brent and the coaching staff expect from me, and that's just playing simple, strong hockey," the Rebels first-year rearguard said Wednesday.

"Once I kind of came around to that and let go of some of my midget habits, I started to really evolve as a player and more importantly as a person. That's something I'm really grateful for and hopefully I can take that into next season as well."

A first-round selection, ninth overall, of the Swift Current Broncos in the 2017 WHL bantam draft, Sexsmith was dealt to the Vancouver Giants in January of the following year.

The Edmonton native played five games for the Giants in 2017-18, then as a 16-year-old was diagnosed with blood clots while training in Vancouver during the summer. As a result, he appeared in just one game with the Giants last season and played 15 with the Delta Hockey Academy prep team, scoring five goals and adding seven assists.

Basically, his WHL career started last fall, shortly after being acquired from the Rebels in a trade with the Giants.

"It's a learning curve moving up to this level," he said. "It's a big jump. You're playing with pro potential players and guys who are moving on to CIS schools to play hockey.

"It's definitely a bit intimidating at the start and you can over-compensate and try to do things you're not normally accustomed to doing. That's something I've had to learn as a player this year - just forget about being flashy or trying to make up for mistakes.

"Honestly, just go back out there regardless of how you're playing and just play to the best of your abilities and what you game has to offer. I think that's important for every young player moving into the league and I'm really grateful to be able to learn that from the coaching staff and some of the older players on the team as well."

Playing close to his hometown and family and friends has been an added reward, Sexsmith noted.

"I've grown up an Albertan and after being all over the place the last few years it's nice to settle into a place where I'm comfortable," said the six-foot-one, 176-pound blueliner, who played minor hockey at four academies in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba.

"I can watch my dad (Edmonton Global sports anchor John Sexsmith) on TV which I wasn't able to do when I was playing out of province, and my mom will bring me baking from home. That's important.

"It's the little things that matter most when you're playing close to home and I'm happy to get that opportunity this season."

The blood clot situation is still something Sexsmith has to monitor. He takes blood thinners and undergoes regular blood tests.

"It's something to be cautious about, health is obviously a huge thing," he said. "But the team has been super cooperative in that area and it's made for an enjoyable year."

Sexsmith, who will celebrate his 18th birthday in April, worked out at a Vancouver boxing facility last July under the guidance of Ian Gallagher, the father of Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.

He credited the elder Gallagher for effectively keeping an eye on the blood clot injury while helping him train like a pro.

"I got a chance to rehab and work over the summer with Ian Gallagher and I've learned to manage it better," said Sexsmith, who has scored once - an overtime winner Dec. 1 in Calgary - and collected eight points in 48 games with Red Deer.

"It's not much of anything now but a thought in the back of my mind. I found out I'm missing an artery, a major one, in my leg, so it's still something I have to be cautious about. But I know the precautions and how to handle the injury now."

The Rebels are preparing for a pair of home-ice contests this weekend - Friday against the Winnipeg Ice and Saturday versus the Edmonton Oil Kings.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2020


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