Justin Weller won’t jump up and grab your attention with his offensive abilities, but that’s just fine with the Red Deer Rebels veteran defenceman.
It’s his work in the defensive zone that’s his strength and should one day earn him a pro contract.
“I’ve accepted not scoring a lot of goals, and I’m fine with that,” said the 19-year-old native of Daysland. “Blocking a shot is like scoring a goal for me. Whenever I do score it’s a bonus.”
Still the six-foot-three, 203-pound Weller has a career high three goals to go with four assists in 35 games and a solid plus-six in the plus-minus category.
“The plus-minus isn’t bad after the first half and hopefully I can keep building on that,” he said.
Although Weller’s plus-minus isn’t the best among the team’s rearguards, Rebels defensive coach Bryce Thoma is fine where he is.
“He’s played solid from the start to the finish of the first half,” said Thoma. “He’s been able to use his size to his advantage, shown a little mean streak more often than not and been very reliable.
“His plus-minus is good in that he usually draws a lot of assignments where he’s playing against the other team’s top players. He, along with (Colin) Archer, (Alex) Petrovic and (Aaron) Borejko are asked to shut down the other team’s top two lines and they’ve done that. As well, Justin doesn’t play the power play and he’s not always noticed on the scoresheet, but at the end of the day he’s a big physical presence and a very big part of our penalty kill.”
The Rebels penalty kill is second best at home at 87.1 per cent and third best overall (84.6). They’ll take that mark into their meeting with the Brandon Wheat Kings tonight at 7 p.m. at the Centrium.
Weller, in his fourth season with the Rebels, was a fourth-round NHL draft pick (105th overall) of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2009. He attended their camp the last two seasons, which he says helped him develop.
“I had a good camp in Phoenix and built up a little momentum going into the start of this season,” he said.
“I’ve been happy with the way I’ve played. I’ve struggled at times but for the most part I was pretty consistent. It also helps that the team is doing well.”
The Rebels sport a 22-10-1-3 record and are tied with the Medicine Hat Tigers for second in the Central Division, one point back of the Kootenay Ice.
Weller enjoyed his second trip to the Coyotes’ camp.
“I knew what to expect, but every time you go you learn a lot from guys who have been there for years like (Ed) Jovanovski and (Shane) Doan,” said Weller, who impressed the Coyotes’ staff with his defensive play.
“In my exit meeting they told me I wasn’t an offensive guy, which I already knew,” he said with a smile.
“They told me I was a guy who would be used to shut down the other team’s top guys and be hard to play against. There’s a place in the game for those type of players.”
Weller hasn’t received any indication as to when, or if, he’ll receive a contract offer.
“I’ve talked with the head scout and he’s happy with the way I’m playing and said to ‘keep playing and make a good push in the playoffs’. But there’s no indication as to anything short term. Hopefully in the next couple of months I’ll get an offer.”
Until then Weller will continue to play shut down defence along with his defensive partner Borejko.
“We’ve been together all year and fortunately we’ve both been healthy,” said Weller. “By playing together you get a chance to develop some chemistry where you can read off each other a little better.”
The fact Weller has been under head coach Jesse Wallin for four years has helped as well.
“I can’t thank him enough for how much he’s helped me and showed me, I’m extremely grateful,” he said. “He played in the NHL and knows what it takes to play there.”
• Rebels will be without 16-year-old defencemen Matt Dumba and Lucas Grayson, both of whom are with Team Pacific at the World U17 Challenge . . . Matt Pufahl will step in if he’s healthy.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com