With no Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — at least for now — no Byron Froese and no Andrej Kudrna, the Red Deer Rebels must score by committee this season.
Tell Adam Kambeitz something he doesn’t know.
“We’ve had a pretty even contribution from the guys so far this year,” the Rebels captain said Tuesday at the Centrium, where the club practised in preparation for tonight’s 7 p.m. Western Hockey League meeting with the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“With our team this year we’re not going to have guys like Nugent-Hopkins and Byron Froese scoring goals for us. It’s going to have to be more evenly distributed. I think we’ve done pretty well in that regard except for the last game against Kootenay (a 2-1 home-ice loss Saturday) when we didn’t capitalize on some of the chances we had.
“But we’re starting to come together more as a group and that will probably help our defence even more.”
The Rebels have potted just 15 goals in six games this fall, but as Kambeitz noted, nine different players have chipped in.
Kambeitz leads all Red Deer snipers with four tallies, but only rookie winger Cory Millette has averaged more than a point per game with five (2g,3a) in four outings.
“He’s done really well so far. The coaches have given him an opportunity lately and he’s pounced on that opportunity,” said Kambeitz. “He’s a really skilled guy and he can make some amazing plays.”
Kambeitz has skated with Millette and forward Daulton Siwak on the Rebels’ power play, but at even strength he’s had an assortment of linemates.
“The lines have been different on some nights, it’s been a mix and match type of thing,” said the team captain. “It’s still early in the season and we’re still trying to find that chemistry between linemates. Once that comes the offence will get a boost for sure.”
The Rebels opened the season with two wins, then dropped two games in succession.
Following a 4-2 win at Calgary Friday, Red Deer fell back to .500 (3-3) with Saturday’s loss to the Ice.
Kambeitz isn’t concerned.
“Last year we started similar to this and look at the season we had,” he said.
“It’s still early and we know we have a lot of things we have to improve on, but I don’t think we’re getting too worried at this point. We’re just going to remain positive and move forward.”
• The Rebels will take on the Regina Pats Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Centrium and next week will entertain the Kamloops Blazers, Moose Jaw Warriors and Portland Winterhawks Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
• The Rebels will learn at about 4:30 p.m. today whether they will host the 2013 Memorial Cup tournament. Saskatoon and Kelowna are the other two finalists and the host team will be decided following presentations to the WHL board of governors at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com
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