Kue-Gene Park, who also goes by Ethan, was in familiar territory on day two of Red Deer Rebels main camp on Friday.
Not only was it his second training camp since he was selected 40th overall by the Rebels in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft but it was also a reunion for Park who was born in Red Deer.
The 16-year-old lived in the city until he was five years old before moving to the U.S. in Idaho. Since he was 13 years old he's been living out of his house to chase his hockey dreams.
Despite that, he still has family who live in Red Deer including his aunt owns a local hotel in the area.
"I remember I went to daycare here and my grandparents have an acreage up here so lots of times I'd be there running around near the farm area or in my neighbourhood," he said while thinking back on memories.
"We'd go down to the pond and I learned to skate there. I didn't have a set of gear at the time because my older brother played hockey and we only had one set. Once my brother said he was done with hockey my dad was like, 'There you go. We've got a set of gear for you.' That's how I started hockey."
Park's hockey journey has taken him all over the United States including time with the U13 and U14 AAA Los Angeles Kings team from 2021-23.
Most recently, he spent last season with the Buffalo Sabres U15 AAA team where he scored 69 points in 70 games as a center. He also spent time with their Tier I team where he notched 12 points in 16 games.
Park moved from Los Angeles to Buffalo through his mentor and coach Dustin Brown, who won two Stanley Cups and captained the Los Angeles Kings, asked Park if he wanted to switch teams as Brown's son was his linemate and they were moving.
"I'm staying at his place and he's my head coach this year. I have a great opportunity to learn and develop with him over there. I'm enjoying every moment," he said.
This year, if he doesn't end up making the Rebels roster, he said they have a strong team in Buffalo, and after a down season last year they hope to win the state championship.
"I've learned a lot from Dustin and I have a great relationship with him. I'm very lucky in that way because he's been my father figure for three years and now I have the opportunity to be a player for him," Park added.
That path has brought him back to training camp this week at the Peavey Mart Centrium where he hopes to sign and make the final Rebels roster.
Park said as a player he likes to play a physical style game where he isn't afraid to get in the dirty areas. He's certainly not the biggest player on the ice at five feet nine inches tall but he doesn't let that hold back his offensive game.
"I'm 100 per cent interested in signing here and I'm looking forward to what the future holds," he said.
"I want to show them that I can play big boy hockey and I really want to get as comfortable as possible as quick as possible. I want to let [the Rebels] know that I can compete with these guys and keep up with them."
Last year he was a part of the rookie camp but this time around he's suiting up as a member of the main camp. So far, he's soaking in the experience.
"It's great to be in the main group," he said. "I had lots of good guys who were vets who helped me out last year and guided me along the way. Now that I'm with them, I also have to help out whoever I can and just lead the way. I like to be a leader in my own way."
