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In a league of his own

His rebound control is impressive, but that hasn’t stopped Darcy Kuemper from bouncing back nicely from last spring’s rough post-season experience.
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Darcy Kuemper has bounced back to have a monster start to the season.

His rebound control is impressive, but that hasn’t stopped Darcy Kuemper from bouncing back nicely from last spring’s rough post-season experience.

After an all-star regular-season showing, Kuemper struggled in the Red Deer Rebels net during the first two games of an eventual Western Hockey League Eastern Conference quarter-final sweep by the Saskatoon Blades, so much so that back-up Kraymer Barnstable played part of the second game and all of Games 3 and 4.

But from the opening outing of the current campaign, Kuemper has been a revelation. He was good the majority of last season; he’s been lights out this season.

“I’ve kind of tried to erase that (playoff series performance) from my memory,” the always-smiling Saskatoon native said this week. “This season has been a lot of fun, we’re winning lots and the team is playing great. It’s my last year here and I just want to enjoy it.”

Kuemper, the current Canadian Hockey League goaltender of the week, has been between the pipes for each and every one of the Rebels’ 20 victories. His five shutouts are the most in the CHL, while his 1.71 goals-against average and .937 save percentage are the best in the country.

It’s difficult to imagine that there’s a major junior netminder anywhere who is performing at a loftier level.

So what’s the deal?

“Two summers ago I was rehabbing (from an injury) and couldn’t train until August. This year I actually got a full summer of training in and I feel like I really benefitted from that,” said the six-foot-four, 200-pound stopper. “I feel like I’m in great shape now and I never get tired during games. I think that’s been a big plus for me this season.

“I’m also a year older and more experienced. Last year I got a taste of what it takes to be a dominant player in this league and this year I’ve just tried to apply more consistency to my game. And obviously the team has been solid all year. Our ‘D’ core has been great all year, they’ve eliminated second opportunites . . . I’ve just had to focus on the first shot. It’s been awesome.”

What makes Kuemper’s rise from WHL all-star to virtual superstar even more impressive is the fact that he experienced a level of disappointment when he was returned to the Rebels by the Minnesota Wild in late September. The Wild, who selected Kuemper in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL entry draft, simply didn’t have room in their organization for the 20-year-old, a situation that won’t exist next year.

“Obviously you always want to play at the highest level you can, so that (being reassigned by the Wild) was disappointing at first,” said Kuemper. “But in coming back here I just wanted to make sure I would be one of the top players in the league by working at my consistency and bringing it every game. I knew we were going to have a really solid team this year and my goal is to help us win as many games as possible.”

Indeed, Kuemper returned from Minnesota in a positive state of mind and has carried that attitude through the first three months of the season.

“We had a good chat when he came back and I think he realizes that there is always two ways of looking at something — you can sit around and mope about it or you can take advantage of the situation you are in,” said Rebels head coach/vice-president of hockey operations Jesse Wallin. “I think ‘Kuemps’ realizes that you have to look long term, you have to look to the future. It was disappointing for him to be sent back . . . everyone wants to be playing pro at 20, but it’s about where he’s going to be two years from now and five years from now . . . he has a 20-year window ahead of him to hopefully be playing pro hockey.

“By taking this season the right way he can take that step next year of moving into pro with having a real good season under his belt, with 55 to 60 regular-season games played and hopefully a good playoff run as well. He can get some experience that way that will make him a better pro and better prepared to make that step next year and perhaps pull himself ahead of someone on the (Minnesota) organization’s depth chart.”

Kuemper’s temperament — as much as anything — has played a role in the goalie’s success.

“I feel calm in the net. It feels like the game has really slowed down, that I’m kind of reading the play almost a second before it happens,” he said. “That really helps. I feel like I’m always in position because of that.”

“His maturity level is higher this year,” said Wallin. “He’s a 20-year-old player, he’s a great kid with a lot of character and he’s mentally tough. In the past he was an emotional player and at times would get down on himself or get too high.

“He’s taken a very professional approach this year and that’s really helped with the consistency in his game. It just comes with experience and maturity.”

Kuemper is a big part of the Rebels’ penalty kill, which just happens to be third-best in the league.

“He’s our best penalty killer,” said Wallin. “If a team dumps the puck in poorly and he’s able to play it, he keeps us out of a pressure situation by moving the puck down the ice.

“He’s done a tremendous job of that. If you can get the puck 200 feet down the ice without allowing the other team to get a forecheck and get pressure going in the offensive zone . . . every time he does that it’s 20 to 25 seconds off the clock.”

In the likelihood that Kuemper does sign a contract with the Wild in the near future, he’ll be exposed to very few surprises when he moves to the next plateau after appearing in four games with the Houston Aeros of the AHL — Minnesota’s top farm team — last spring, posting a 2.41 GAA and .886 save percentage in the process.

“I saw what the next level is all about and how those guys act off the ice, how they take care of their bodies, stuff like that,” said Kuemper. “I’ve really tried to use that experience this year and I think it’s given me an extra little edge.”