Rebels 6 Northstars 2
It would be easy to compare this year’s edition of the Red Deer Optimist Rebels to last year’s Telus Cup championship squad.
But that’s not something head coach Doug Quinn even thinks about.
“One thing I’ve learned a long time ago is to be careful about comparing a team at the start of a season to the team we had the previous year,” he said. “All year we work on systems and structure and we were really solid last year.”
Quinn has only three players back from last year’s squad that defeated the Quebec champion 6-5 in double overtime in the national midget final in Leduc.
One of the veterans is goaltender Matt Zentner, who was a late addition to camp.
“That’s a bonus as I really didn’t expect him back,” said Quinn. “He had a great year last year. We had a great tandem of goalies and he was part of that.”
Quinn Brown returns to the defence with Rory Davidson back up front.
Davidson scored a pair of goals Sunday as the Rebels downed the Calgary Northstars 6-2 in exhibition play at the Arena. They also downed the ‘Stars 6-0 in Calgary Friday.
“Last year we had Rory pencilled in in a defensive role, but this year he has a chance to step up and be one of our offensive leaders,” said Quinn.
Outside of the three returnees Quinn has three other players with major midget experience, in Jody Sick of Red Deer, who played with Leduc, Jacob Schofield, who was with the Edmonton Maple Leafs, and Dustin Gorgi with Medicine Hat.
Overall the Rebels have 10 17-year-olds.
Outside of the six with league experience Ian McLellan, Garrett Engert and Jack Goranson are up from the Red Deer midget AA program and Ryker Leer from Sylvan Lake.
Outside of Quinn all the defence are 16.
Gabe Bast and Colton Bobyk were two of the star players with the provincial champion Red Deer IROC Chiefs last season. Logan Hermus of Big Valley, Jordan Steenbergen of Sylvan Lake and Kaleb Denham of Innisfail round out the defence.
“We got a lot of strong players out of the 15-year-old group,” said Quinn. “They have offensive talent and we expect Bast and Bobyk to step up and be leaders. The other kids have size, strength and give us a physical presence.”
Jayden Sittler, who played in the 15-year-old program, is the backup netminder and is coming off a shutout Friday.
“He’s played well for us,” said Quinn. “He had a good first half last year before being injured the second half. But he came back and hasn’t missed a beat.”
The other forwards out of the 15-year-old league are Jordie Lawson, Chris Gerrie, Chase Thudium and Trey Degraaf.
“We have a lot of talent, but have a long way to go,” said Quinn. “We’re a little shaky in the defensive zone with our systems and positioning. It’s more team defence than anything.
“We still have a lot of growing to do and adjusting to the speed of the league. Once we get there we’ll be good.”
Davidson and Gorgi had two goals Sunday with Leer and Thudium potting singles. Zentner finished with 22 saves. On Friday, Thudium had two goals with singles added by Goranson, Gorgi, Sick and Gerrie. Sittler made 18 saves.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com