By / Lorne Starko
Defence first is the top priority for veteran defenceman Luke Egener. The 20-year-old blueliner is in his third full season with the Red Deer Rebels and his fifth campaign in the Western Hockey League.
Because of his experience, the team is expecting Egener to be a leader on and off the ice. And he’s comfortable in that role and is one of the Rebels alternate captains.
“I’m trying to be consistent and trying to be an example to the younger guys,” says Egener. “I think this year, I feel mentally strong, and I just have to go out there and play my game every day, even in practice. Every day, just do the same things and that’s what hockey is about, repetition. I’ve been here a while and I get teased about it a lot. There’s a reason why I’ve been here so long. I use that to my advantage.”
Through the first 17 games of the season, Egener (a native of Calgary) has notched one goal and four assists. He admits he’s not flashy, but rather, he is steady and someone who gets the job done in his own zone.
The Rebels have struggled at times on defence this year. An early season seven game losing streak didn’t help, although some of the losses were by shootouts. Egener likes what he sees on the back end, but knows the team is young and there is a good future.
“I remember I was on the bench (during a recent home game against Moose Jaw) and was watching Alex Petrovic. I mentioned how I liked one of his plays and thought it was great for a 16-year-old (like him) to be that calm. It’s really fun to watch and for me to be able to help him out when he’s 16. He’s not the only one. Colin Archer and Cullen Morin are very good along with Justin Weller (who has missed much of the season due to injuries). Tommi Koivisto and Joel Kot have been good too. We’ve got a young defence that can move the puck. It’s fun for me because I’m a defensive guy and I get to play with all these offensive guys.”
Egener says the defence is coming along so far this year but knows there are areas on where they can improve. He says because of the long season, it’s important to stick with the team’s systems. However, Egener says the young players will be up and down and that’s true with every newcomer to the league. He says after some of their recent shootout losses, they sometimes feel down the next day. Egener says that can’t happen and it boils down to leadership.
Protecting the puck and getting it out of the Rebels zone is part of their system and Egener says it’s simple but effective, “When I got here (in a trade with Vancouver in the 2005/06 season), Brent Sutter (head coach at the time) said ‘one D-to-D (pass) and then (move it) up the ice.’ I think that’s what we’re trying to implement here. With the young defensive corps, we’re trying to make it simple. Then we try to get our forwards to chip the puck behind their defence and use our team speed rather than trying to force plays.”
Egener says there could be more chatter on the ice during games. He says when he’s going back to get the puck and his defensive partner says he has time, he says his confidence is better, he has poise with the puck and is ready to make that play. Egener says when they’re successful, the defence is talking and moving its feet. When they don’t, he says that’s when they run into trouble. |
