When the best-of-five Alberta Midget Hockey League South Division semifinal series between the Red Deer Optimist Rebels and the Calgary Buffaloes was pushed up to start tonight, that was just fine with Rebels head coach Doug Quinn.
“We haven’t played a ton of games in the last month or so and have been off over a week, so I’m glad it was pushed up so we can get at ‘er,” he said following practice Monday at the Kinex.
The series sees two of the top offensive teams in the AMHL clashing as the Rebels finished second in scoring with 165 goals — one back of the Calgary Flames — while the Buffaloes, who were fourth in the South Division, scored 161 goals.
“They’re a good team, very offensive with high-end talent,” said Quinn. “We had some trouble with them this season. When we had our little down turn just before Christmas we played them twice and they beat us once and we tied the other time, so they’ll be a challenge for us.
“In fact all the Calgary teams were a lot stronger this season.”
The Buffaloes have four of the top scorers in the league, including John Edwardh, who was second overall with 30 goals and 25 assists for 55 points in 34 games.
A pair of 15-year-olds — Brayden Point (19g,22a) and Tanner McMaster (18g,21a) — and all-star Colton Sheen (20g,18a) will also have to be controlled for Red Deer to have success.
Both 15-years-olds, along with Alex Mowbray, were Western Hockey League draft picks in 2011. Point was selected 14th overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors while McMaster was the 19th pick by Spokane. Mowbray went in the fourth round, 78th overall, to Medicine Hat.
The Rebels can do a little better with team scoring leader Ty Mappin, who finished with 19 goals and 23 assists. He was the seventh overall pick by Everett.
The Rebels do spread out their scoring with Scott Feser (18g, 22a) and Brady Bakke (20g,16a) next behind Mappin.
Quinn doesn’t plan on matching lines, at least early in the series.
“Going in we’re not going to be concerned as one of our strengths is our depth. If we play the way we’re capable of I’m comfortable with whoever we have out on the ice.
“We’ll see how the series develops and If we have to make some adjustments we will.
“But right now we’re not going to worry about it.”
The Rebels go into the series healthy for the first time in several weeks.
“It’s been a long time,” said Quinn. “We’ve ran a short bench for the last couple of months, but it looks as if everyone is healthy and ready to go.”
He’s also not worried about being rusty.
“Hopefully not. The first couple of games adrenalin carries people through. It’s a long grind and we’re hoping to make a long run so we’ll need everybody to go right from the start.”
The Rebels finished first overall in the AMHL, which may prove to be the difference at some time in the playoffs.
“One of our goals was to finish first in the league because a lot of times that home ice can be the difference between winning and losing.”
Quinn will start the league-leading goaltender, Dasan Sydora, tonight. Sydora comes in with a 1.72 goals-against-average and a .920 save percentage. Colin Cooper led the Buffaloes with a 2.54 gaa while Red Deer’s Matt Zentner was at 2.70.
“Dasan had a strong year and based on how he plays will determine who starts, We’ll go game by game,” said Quinn.
The series opens tonight at 7 p.m. at the Arena with the second game Saturday in Calgary.
The third game goes Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Arena with the fourth, if necessary, March 7 in Calgary and the fifth, if needed, March 9 at the Arena.
The Flames and Calgary Northstars meet in the other South Division semifinal. Up north Leduc clashes with Fort Saskatchewan and St. Albert meets the Edmonton Athletics.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com