Dumba ready to Rebel
He’s here not just for a good time, but hopefully a long time.
Matt Dumba joined the Red Deer Rebels Monday for the remainder of the Western Hockey League campaign, however long that may be with the team preparing to close out the regular season schedule over the next six days prior to participating in the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Dumba, the Rebels’ first pick — fourth overall — in last spring’s bantam draft, became available when his Edge School prep team concluded its season during the weekend.
“I’m pretty excited. I hope I can help the team,” said the 15-year-old, following an afternoon practice session at the Centrium. “I’m just going to go out there and work as hard as I can wherever and whenever they need me.”
Dumba suited up for three WHL games earlier in the season — picking up an assist, serving a minor penalty and finishing at plus-one overall — and feels that experience will serve him well as he prepares for what should be a much longer call to duty.
“The practices help, too, just getting back to the tempo of the (major junior) game. It’s a big jump from midget,” he said.
Dumba appeared in over 50 games during the season with the Edge School squad, which competes in the Canadian Sports Schools Hockey League and the MidWest Prep League, the latter consisting of teams in Pittsburgh, Chicago and Cleveland.
“We played a ton of weekend game. We were travelling a lot, which was a lot of fun,” he said. “We were in the U.S. for games every second or third weekend.”
The Calgary native is confident that he made the right choice in attending the Edge School — located just west of the city — instead of playing in the Alberta Midget Hockey League.
“The facilities at the school are world class. They have two rinks and a training facility that’s just amazing,” he said. “ And my coaches really helped me out with knowing when to move the puck and knowing when to jump up into the play. That’s something I needed to work on.”
The six-foot, 166-pound rearguard plays an aggressive style which he likens to that of Don Phaneuf.
The captain of the Alberta team which took top honours in the WHL-sponsored Western Canada Under-16 Challenge Cup last fall at Blackfalds, Dumba is projected as an impact player at the major junior level and perhaps beyond.
He’ll most likely be in the lineup tonight when the Rebels take on the Hurricanes in Lethbridge.
“We’d like to get him in and see where he’s at,” said Wallin.
“He adds a dimension back there. He’s a powerful kid and he’s got some offensive ability. He moves he puck well and from what we’ve seen out of him this far, I think he can come in and help us.”
Whether Dumba will play in Wednesday’s all-important game against the Kootenay Ice at Cranbrook or two nights later versus the visiting Ice, might depend on how he performs tonight.
“This is the time of the year when everything is really intense and tight. It’s a big step for Matt, but from we’ve seen he’s going to be ready for it,” said Wallin.
“We don’t want to put a bunch of pressure on him, but he’s a top-end kid who’s proven he can play at this level and we’ll see where he’s at.”
While it can be difficult to detect from a practice session, Wallin feels Dumba has progressed as a player since his last appearance with the Rebels, in December.
“He’s had a very good season and he’s grown a bit and matured that way,” said Wallin.
“He’s got a certain confidence level now and because he has a few games under his belt he knows the guys now.
“He’s coming in here knowing what he’s getting into and that in itself should be an advantage for him.”
gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com
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