By Lorne Starko /
It’s been over a month since the Western Hockey League season ended for the Red Deer Rebels and no playoff appearance for the second straight year and third in four seasons.
Team officials are looking ahead and working on ways to improve the talent on the ice. The man in charge of that is Randy Peterson, the vice president of hockey operations. He is focusing his attention on the WHL Bantam Draft. Red Deer will pick fourth overall in the first round and fifth in each subsequent round.
“In the last few years, we’ve drafted forwards in the first round,” says Peterson. “But we aren’t afraid to go with the best player. In the second round, we will turn our attention to a defenceman. There are three top defencemen available including a really good mobile defenceman and a shutdown defenceman. Three or four defencemen could go first overall. There’s perhaps not the top-end talent like last year. There’s not a clear number one overall. There are good kids in the top five.”
As for the CHL European Draft later on, the Rebels pick 14th and Peterson says there should be a good talented forward available. He says they have to get a good playmaking, skilled forward.
Peterson says that would help as they don’t want to put too much on the shoulders of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Burnaby, B.C., last year’s top Bantam pick who was impressive in five games with the Rebels during the past season.
The Rebels expect Finnish defenceman Tommi Kivisto to return next season. Team owner and New Jersey Devils head coach Brent Sutter looks after the European Draft because of his numerous contacts with scouts and hockey officials.
Looking at the past season, Peterson admits it was a disappointment, but says he saw a lot of positives and many promising things. He says the younger players like Landon Ferraro, Willie Coetzee and Cass Mappin will be a year older with more experience. Peterson says six of seven defencemen from last year will be returning. He hopes blueliner Justin Weller can stay healthy and not miss as many games as he did during the 2008/09 campaign.
The focus of next season obviously will be on Nugent-Hopkins and fans at the Centrium are drooling after they got a glimpse of the sniper when he suited up for three homes games in Red Deer and didn’t disappoint.
“We’re so excited about Ryan,” Peterson says. “He’s such a smart kid on the ice and is so creative. It’s going to be fun to watch him. Ryan and Daulton Siwak (the Rebels’ second pick in the draft last year and from nearby Olds) will be given every opportunity.”
Peterson says the Rebels are sort of like the Washington Capitals – good skill with sandpaper and grit to help them along. He says the Rebels have enough team toughness but says the squad they iced last year was the smallest in a long time.
“I’m not sure how you fix that immediately,” states Peterson. “Jordie Deagle (who is 6-2, 194 pounds) helps to address that. Our young prospects are a year older.”
Peterson says Mappin, Weller and Josh Cowen also give the Rebels some good size.
Peterson points to 18 year-old forward Joel Lowry, who is 6-2 and played with the Calgary Buffaloes Midget hockey team during the past season. Peterson says Lowry likes to play physical and that’s what the Rebels need.
The Rebels should have four 20 year-olds competing for three available spots next year.
Peterson says the team is not looking at upgrading in that area.
“Cullen Morin is very important on the back end,” says Peterson. “Jordie Deagle has good leadership. Cody Esposito has good toughness. Cody Gross has good skill.” |