Dawson Barteaux was named the new captain for the Red Deer Rebels Tuesday.
The blueliner, a sixth-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2018, has been with the Rebels since his 16-year-old season when he arrived in a blockbuster trade with the Regina Pats.
He was originally a first round pick, 14th overall by the Pats in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.
The six-foot-one, 188-pound defender has taken on an increased role every season with the Rebels and was leaned on in the absence of Alex Alexeyev. Barteaux, 19, recorded a career-high seven goals and 34 points in 67 games last season in Red Deer.
Barteaux takes over the “C’ from Reese Johnson, who moved on to pro hockey after signing with the Chicago Blackhawks late last season.
The 19-year-old defenceman is the first blueliner to be captain for the club since Colin Archer in the 2010-11 season.
Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter said the assistants for the season will be named at a later date.
You will be seeing a great big 'C' on that jersey this season. Dawson Barteaux has been named the Rebels captain. Alternates will be at a later date. #RDR
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) August 27, 2019
📸: @wallygator88 pic.twitter.com/boVgxoB82L
Rebels trade Donohoe to Thunderbirds
Red Deer also shipped out defenceman Hunter Donohoe on Monday night. The 19-year-old was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds for Louden Hogg, a 16-year-old American goalie.
Sutter said the one-for-one deal was a matter of trying to find Donohoe a better situation for he’d be in line for more playing time. With the young crop of blueliners the Rebels have, that wasn’t going to be the case.
“The biggest thing is it’s giving him an opportunity to play somewhere and play in our league. We’re going to be a younger team this year and our defence is going to be young. We have to make sure these young guys are playing and get ice time,” Sutter said.
“Seattle was looking for a defenceman and we thought it we could make something work now, it would be better now than waiting two or three weeks down the road.”
The Rebels blueline will likely be anchored by Barteaux, Christoff Sedoff, Ethan Sakowich and Jacob Herauf.
Beyond that, there needs to be ice time for players like Chase Leslie, Ryan Gottfried, Mason Ward and Blake Gustafson. Plus the Rebels have a strong crop of 2003-born blueliners, like Jeremy Hancock, Kyle Masters and Trey Patterson.
As for the new goaltender, Hogg is currently committed to staying in Minnesota and playing at Edina High School. He’s originally from Wyoming and played for Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup this summer, posting a 0.96 goals-against average and .972 save percentage in four games.
“He’s a goalie that our Minnesota scout has seen play a lot. At this point and time, he’s someone that wants to stay in the U.S. and possibly go the NCAA route. But that can change,” Sutter said.
“We just felt when his name got brought into the mix, we just felt why wouldn’t we, you can never have enough depth on your list in goaltending.”
White wins second straight scrimmage
Team White won the main camp scrimmage for the second straight day Tuesday. Three defencemen hit the board for White, including Christoff Sedoff, Chase Leslie and Barteaux. Team Black got goals from Jaxsen Weibe and a late tap-in by Ethan Rowland.
Wednesday, the Rebels rookies will be on the ice at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The main camp scrimmage is at 2 p.m.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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