WHL Red Deer Rebels

So Far, So Good for Rebels Rookie Blueliner Gottfried

Published on October 22, 2018 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, but it's paid big dividends for Ryan Gottfried.

The first-year Red Deer Rebels defenceman waited patiently for his chance to get into a regular-season Western Hockey League game this fall , all the while honing his skills during the team's practice routines.

"Just the tempo and the way we practise kind of replicates our game We practise at a very high speed, a high tempo. Everything is fast-paced," Gottfried said Monday, two days after appearing in his first home game and second of the season.

"Everything is kind of crisp, there's kind of no room for mistakes. Those happen, but Brent (GM/head coach Sutter) is very particular when it comes to that. He wants to make sure everything is done right, the right way."

Clearly, the reps he got in practice paid off for the six-foot-three, 201-pound defender, who made his regular season debut Oct. 13 in a 2-1 loss to the host Prince Albert Raiders and received accolades from Sutter for his plus-1 performance.

"It's not always easy going in for your first game, especially on the road and against one of the top teams in the league," said Gottfried. "It was played at a high speed, but I thought I had a good solid game out there .Really, I don't think there was much I could have done that could be (construed as) wrong.

"It's definitely a big step up from what I played last year, the speed and physicality, obviously, but I definitely feel like I'm adjusting very well to it. I feel like it's just coming easier every game and every practice as well. Practice is the main thing that's been helping me a lot and I've been adjusting very well."

Gottfried, who turned 17 in August, played at the midget AAA level the past two seasons, with the Winnipeg Thrashers as a 15-year-old and last winter with the Winnipeg Wild, with whom he scored five goals and added 24 assists in 45 games.

He attributes part of his success so far - Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Kootenay Ice, in which he picked up a minor penalty and was an even plus/minus player was just his second regular-season contest - to the confidence he gained last season with the Wild.

"Being kind of a leader out there and knowing that I was striving to get to the next level really pushed me to be a top guy in that league," he said. "Playing in the league for a second year gave me so much confidence, especially since I was playing more and kind of leading out there."

Gottfried decided to add something new to his off-season training regimen by taking boxing lessons during the summer.

"That was awesome. It's kind of under-estimated ( as an exercise) I'd say, It's not what you think at all," he said.

"It's hard, there's a lot of core and endurance involved in it. It helped me in more ways than just the cardio aspect. It strengthens your whole body. It's a whole body kind of exercise.

"For sure I'll be going back to it next summer."

Based on his play in his first two WHL regular-season contests, Gottfried figures to draw into the starting lineup on a more regular basis moving forward.

Despite the club's youth up front, the Rebels are off to a very respectable start and will take a 7-3-1-0 record into Tuesday's game with the visiting Calgary Hitmen.

"Brent has always said he doesn't take age into account and I see the same thing as him, that it doesn't really matter," said Gottfried, who was impressed with the team's play even as an early-season spectator.

"Everyone has been playing their game, our top forwards are producing and obviously Andy (netminder Ethan Anders) has played real well for us. And our back end is deep and strong. We have one of the top 'D' corps in the league."

While he's still learning the major junior hockey ropes, Gottfried's progression can be summed up in four words - so far, so good.

The fact that he's received words of encouragement - and advice - from Sutter has helped.

"He's just said that I have to keep on playing my game, being physical , moving pucks up fast, keeping a tight game . . . just kind of closing the space on guys and playing good positionally," said Gottfried. "As a bigger guy I need to play well positionally to have the most success with my game."

Rebels vs. Calgary Hitmen

Tuesday, 7 p.m., Centrium

The Hitmen opened the season with five consecutive losses before edging visiting Lethbridge 6-5 on Oct. 12. Calgary then dropped its next two games but has since won three in a row - all on the road - and with a 4-6-2-0 record sits fifth in the Central Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference ... C Mark Kastelic, the current WHL player of the week, is the club's top scorer with 10 goals and 17 points, while C Jake Kryski has contributed seven goals and 12 points. RW Josh Prokop (4g,4a) and RW Kaden Elder (4-4) have chipped in with eight points apiece . . . Carl Stankowski has posted a 2-4-2 record in the Calgary net, to go with a 4.11 goals-against average and .868 save percentage. The team's other G, Jack McNaughton, has a 2-1-0 record, a 4.58 GAA and .867 save percentage.

Injuries: Calgary - LW Bryce Bader (lower body, 1-2 weeks). Red Deer - None to report.

Special teams: Calgary - Power play 21.3 per cent, 17th overall; penalty kill 77.6 per cent, 12th. Red Deer - Power play 25 per cent, sixth overall; penalty kill 79.2 per cent, ninth.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2018


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