As the Red Deer Rebels prepare for their final weekend of Western Hockey League preseason action, hometown product Scott Feser is still auditioning for a regular-season job.
That might be surprising to some, considering Feser is only 16 years of age and was an eighth-round selection of the Rebels in the 2010 WHL bantam draft.
The five-foot-10, 165-pound Red Deer native admitted Tuesday that even he didn’t anticipate being among the final eight forward prospects pushing for full-time employment.
“I have to be confident, but I wasn’t expecting this to happen,” said Feser.
As Rebels assistant coach Chris Neiszner pointed out, Feser has developed at a rather rapid pace and deserves his spot in the mix.
“He’s looked better every time I’ve seen him,” said Neiszner. “From last year at camp to the prospects camp in June to training camp this fall and now through the preseason . . . every time I’ve seen Scotty Feser he has improved. That’s an indication of the amount of commitment he’s put into it.”
Neiszner likes Feser’s enhanced ability to get up and down the ice and he’s impressed with his on-ice intelligence.
“His skating has definitely improved and he’s just such a smart player that it allows him to compete and play at this level,” said Neiszner. “He’s committed himself to becoming a better player and he has a great work ethic. He’s a smart, skilled player and he’s really shown that here.
“Scotty has a chance to make our club, as do the other rookies here. That’s their job — to make our (coaches’) decisions tough.”
Feser, who has successfully focused on becoming a better skater, enjoyed a banner 2010-11 season with the minor midget AAA Red Deer IROC Chiefs. He scored 18 goals, including five game-winners, and collected a team-high 51 points — sixth best in the league — in 32 regular-season games, then earned the MVP award in the Sutter Cup tournament — the provincial league’s Southern Conference finals — and helped the Chiefs win the Alberta title.
“I got lots of ice time and lots of opportunities last season. I feel I’ve improved quite a bit and I think that’s a big reason why I’m still here,” he said. “I came to camp last month just hoping to do my best and I must be playing pretty well to still be here.”
Feser’s older brother, Justin, cracked the regular-season roster of the Tri-City Americans three years ago after being selected in the ninth round of the 2007 bantam draft, and last winter was one of the club’s offensive leaders with 36 goals and 73 points.
“He (Justin) has been doing well. When he was my age he wasn’t expected to be where he is now, so if I could follow him that would be awesome,” said the younger Feser.
In the event that he falls short in his bid to play at the major junior level this season, Feser won’t be shattered. He’ll almost certainly be slotted into the lineup of the defending Alberta midget AAA champion Optimist Rebels.
“The midget triple A team is looking strong again so joining them wouldn’t be bad at all,” he said.
The Rebels conclude preseason play Friday and Saturday with 7:30 p.m. games at Lacombe and Stettler versus the Edmonton Oil Kings and Medicine Hat Tigers.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com