The opportunity he’s getting now is the chance Lane Scheidl wanted in Vancouver.
But it’s far from a perfect world and different organizations see players in different roles. As a result, Scheidl was dealt from the Vancouver Giants to the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday in exchange for fellow 17-year-old forward Connor Redmond.
The trade, as both teams suggested, will give the players a chance to prove they can excel in new surroundings. Scheidl, for one, is confident that he’ll be used in a more prominent function than was the case in Vancouver.
“I was a little surprised by the trade, but it’s a good thing. I’ll get more of an opportunity here and hopefully prosper,” the Saskatoon native said on Tuesday.
“I’m still trying to see where I fit in here. I don’t really know my role yet, but maybe it’s kind of a third-line guy. I can bring some energy to the team and I try to be good down low with the puck. I like to forecheck and get stuff going on the cycle in the offensive zone.”
In other words, Scheidl, at least for now, is a grinding, physical forward. Rebels head coach Jesse Wallin sees the five-foot-11, 192-pound winger as a dual threat.
“He was a guy we had identified as someone who would be in the mix in a trade for Redmond,” said Wallin.
“We feel that he’s a player with a lot of upside and we think he can be a guy who scores at this level.
“He already has the size to compete in the league, plus he skates well. He has some similarities to a guy like (former Rebels captain) Brett Sutter. He’s got the same style of game and I think he’s a guy who’s going to be able to put the puck in the net.”
Scheidl produced offensively at the midget AAA level, scoring 21 goals and adding 23 assists for 44 points in 39 regular-season games with the Saskatoon Blazers last winter.
He also racked up 56 minutes in penalties, then picked up another 14 minutes in three playoff contests, in which he contributed three assists.
“I’m a (WHL) rookie and I didn’t get a lot of power-play time in Vancouver, which I expected.
“But hopefully I can put some points on the board here,” said Scheidl, who had two goals and five points in 22 games with the Giants this season.
“I was mostly a fourth-line guy in Vancouver and now I’m third-line player and I saw a bit of time on the second line the last game (3-1 loss to Medicine Hat on Sunday). I’m getting the opportunity to play more and I want to be a guy the team can rely on.”
Scheidl kept his shifts short during his Rebels debut, a 3-2 win over visiting Spokane on Saturday, then picked up the pace the following night in Medicine Hat.
“His first game with us was at the end of a day that would be long and emotional for anybody, let alone a 17-year-old,” said Wallin. ‘
“He looked a little fatigued. He started out well but then kind of wore down as the game went on, and that was to be expected.
“But I thought he played very well in Medicine Hat. He really hounded the puck on the forecheck, created a couple of turnovers and got a few good opportunities around the net because of that.
“He’s guy who can initiate and withstand the physical play. He gets involved, and again, we think he has a good skill level. He’s got some intelligence where he’s able to make plays with his head up.”
The Rebels will host the Moose Jaw Warriors and Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday and Saturday.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com
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