Opportunity knocked and Trey Patterson answered it.
The 16-year-old defenceman was thrust into WHL action last Saturday, after an injury to Rebels blueliner Chase Leslie Friday.
With the Rebels thin on the backend, Patterson was called up from the Calgary Midget AAA Buffaloes and made his WHL debut against the Prince Albert Raiders.
“It was awesome. I really enjoyed the experience. It’s a big change from Midget (AAA) to here, but I liked it,” said the Calgary native about his debut.
“I was super nervous. But I just wanted to get out there and keep it simple and get into the game really.”
Not only was it tough for Patterson to adjust to the pace, but he was also coming off a separated shoulder that he suffered in the opening game of the Mac’s Midget AAA Tournament at Christmas time. His first game back? An unexpected WHL call up.
“First game of the Mac’s, I got hit and just went into the boards weird and separated it. I didn’t play for the rest of it,” he said.
“It’s my first real injury that I needed to take time off, that I needed to go to physio and stuff.”
His team went on to win the Mac’s, with Patterson on the sidelines. They picked up a 6-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors in the final. He was their biggest cheerleader.
Patterson was drafted 28th overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. He’s now in his second season with the Buffaloes and is drawing more responsibility as a veteran. Still, he understands that staying within himself and not trying to do too much is key to his development.
“Just trying to keep it simple. Not do too much. I am a vet, so I am one of the players my coaches rely on. Not trying to go out there and do everything myself. Just keep it simple, get pucks up quick,” said Patterson, who has seven points in 23 Alberta Midget AAA Hockey League games this season.
His adjustment to the WHL level was so seamless in fact, Rebels assistant Brad Flynn said he hardly noticed the young blueliner, a compliment of the highest regard for players in that position.
“He wasn’t nervous or he didn’t show it. We kept it very simple with what we asked him to do. He executed the small things and didn’t try to do too much. When you’re an affiliate player, you’re a young player, that’s a coaches’ dream,” said Flynn.
“At the end of the game, I sat back and I didn’t notice him and that’s probably the best compliment you can give an affiliate.”
With Leslie still listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury on the WHL Report, Patterson will likely draw a few more WHL assignments in the final 25 games this year. The key going forward? Do more of what he did in his debut.
“He’s confident, without being cocky,” Flynn said.
“He has a small enough ego that he still understood the situation he was being put in. He didn’t come in and try and be an Erik Karlsson. He came in, was part of the group and the group was successful and we had a big win because of it.”
The Rebels will host the Calgary Hitmen on Jan. 25, then head to Calgary to take on the Hitmen on Sunday.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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