The Red Deer Rebels will be minus the services of at least two players between Christmas and the first week of January; that much they know.
However, the list could grow, with as many as five other players possibly in the mix for international duty.
But first things first. The Rebels know for a fact that defenceman Kayle Doetzel and forward Cory Millette will suit up for Team West (Saskatchewan-Manitoba) in the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge Dec. 28-Jan. 4 at Windsor, Ont.
Rebels GM/head coach Jesse Wallin was adamant that Doetzel and Millette, both 16, are deserving of their appointments.
“Kayle has been nothing but consistent since he got here and he continues to improve. He’s just been a steady, reliable guy who’s learning the game and he hasn’t given us any reasons to take him out of the lineup. He’s been very dependable,” Wallin said Tuesday.
“And Cory has been very productive. He sat out a couple of games early in the year and since that time, same thing . . . he hasn’t allowed us to take him out of the lineup.”
Millette sits eighth in team scoring with six goals and 11 points in 18 games and also has a plus/minus rating of plus-5.
“He’s adjusted to the league very well,” said Wallin. “He’s so smart and good with the puck and he’s just continued to improve. He’s learning to play the game away from the puck which has allowed him to earn more ice time and he continues to progress each day.”
Also named to Team West is Rebels prime prospect Kevin Pochuk, a standout defenceman with the midget AAA Winnipeg Wild. The six-foot-one, 192-pound rearguard has six goals and 27 points in 17 games with the undefeated Wild, along with a team-high 32 minutes in penalties.
“He’s a guy we’re definitely real high on,” said Wallin. “We think he’s going to be able to come in here and be an everyday player for us next year.
“He had a very good preseason with us and arguably could have played here this year if we didn’t have the depth we do on defence.
“But we didn’t want him sitting around here being our seventh defenceman and in and out of the lineup. He needs to play and he’s doing exactly what he needs to do in Manitoba. He’s certainly one of the best — if not the best — defencemen in that midget league. He’s playing in all situations, he’s playing a ton and that’s going to allow him to come in here next year ready to be a contributor.”
Meanwhile, forward John Persson, goaltender Patrik Bartosak and defencemen Alex Petrovic and Mathew Dumba are other Rebels who could be on various international team radars.
And forward Adam Kambeitz, who along with Petrovic and Dumba will suit up with Team WHL in a Super Series clash with Team Russia tonight at Regina, may also be in the mix as a Team Canada role player.
Wallin said he hasn’t heard anything from the Swedish hockey federation in regards to their possible interest in Persson, while Czech Republic assistant coach Jiri Fischer has inquired about Bartosak, but the exact degree of interest in the netminder is unknown to Wallin.
Of the three Red Deer players participating in tonight’s Super Series contest, Petrovic likely has the best chance of being invited to the Team Canada final selection camp in December.
“The Super Series game will certainly be part of the (Hockey Canada) evaluation,” said Wallin. “It’s a chance for the (Team Canada) coaches to really get a look at the players and get to know them as people as much as anything. The performance is one thing, but you also get to spend some time with the kids and see how their personalities and demeanours will fit into the group.”
The Rebels will be in Lethbridge Friday for a meeting with the Hurricanes and will host the Saskatoon Blades Saturday night.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com