Rebels: WHL Bantam Draft

Even when it's finally nice outside it's fun to talk hockey.

The 2013 WHL Bantam Draft took place today in Calgary.  Here's who the Rebels selected...

Player                         Selected                                  POS    Birthdate        Hometown    

Jeff de Wit                   1^st round, 14^th overall              C          Mar. 14, 1998  Red Deer, AB

Joshua Mahura             2^nd round, 36^th overall              D         May 6, 1998    St. Albert, AB

Caleb Riess                  4^th round, 70^th overall              RW      Aug. 20, 1998  Rocanville, SK

Nick Darling                6^th round, 113^th overall            D         Feb. 12, 1998  Saskatoon, SK

Cale Chalifoux             6^th round, 124^th overall            D         May 15, 1998  Edmonton, AB

Joshua Logel                7^th round, 137^th overall            C          Apr. 17, 1998  Calgary, AB

Max Salpeter                8^th round, 168^th overall            D         Apr. 2, 1998    St. Albert, AB

Tyler Kirkup                9^th round, 190^th overall            C          Apr. 3, 1998    Virden, MB

Kyle Sargent                9^th round, 195^th overall            D         Mar. 2, 1998    Carlyle, SK

Here is what International Scouting Service had to say about de Wit, whom they had ranked #24 in their Top 50 Prospects for today's draft...

24. JEFFREY DE WIT
Position: Center/Left Wing
Born: March 14/98
Height: 6’02” Weight: 175
Team: Red Deer Rebels Black

Report Card:   
  Skating Good
  Shot/Scoring Very Good
  Puckhandling Good
  Hockey Sense Good

Scouting Report: A big dominant and at times mean power forward, de Wit is an absolute animal on the ice. He powers his way into space but also possesses good quick edge control which makes him a danger to cut into lanes. Add to that a very good shot and you get an understanding for just how difficult it can be for opposing coaches to come up with an answer for this kid. He went down to injury in the 2nd half of the season and Red Deer was not the same club without him.

Weaknesses: Durability and how strong will he bounce back from injuries.

WHL Potential: Top 6 Forward who can push the physical tempo of games.

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Among the other local players drafted today...

Tyler Steenbergen was selected 12 overall by the Swift Current Broncos. Here's what ISS had to say about him...

18. TYLER STEENBERGEN
Position: Center
Born: Jan 7/98
Height: 5’09” Weight: 157
Team: Red Deer White
Report Card
  Skating Excellent
  Shot/Scoring Excellent

  Puckhandling Very Good

  Hockey Sense Very Good

Scouting Report:
A very talented and intelligent offensive playmaker, Steenbergen was a 3 year Bantam AAA player in Alberta, something that does not happen often. He has great hands, is strong and explosively quick skater and always seems to be able to find the right place to be at the right time. He was Mr. Everything for his team this year and was often their only shot at winning the game. Works well in both directions.

Weaknesses: Physicality is an area he needs to focus on, as is overall power.

WHL Potential: Top line player who should evolve into a great junior producer.

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Also selected in today's draft...

Parker Smyth went 44th overall to Saskatoon

TJ Brown went 69th overall to Brandon

Luke Coleman went 104th overall to Spokane

Matt Krawiec went 119th overall to Kootenay

Midget Chiefs: Best In Canada, Again

Here's is today's Hockey Canada media release re: Red Deer Optimist Chiefs Telus Cup victory...

RED DEER CHIEFS WIN 2013 TELUS CUP

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Red Deer Chiefs (Pacific) have won the 2013 TELUS Cup, claiming Canada’s 40th National Midget Championship with a 5-0 win over the Ottawa Jr. 67’s (Central) in Sunday night’s gold medal game at the Essar Centre.



The victory makes the Chiefs just the fourth team in the history of Canada’s National Midget Championship to win back-to-back gold medals, joining the Couillard/Gouverneurs de Ste-Foy (1978, 1979), Prince Albert Mintos (2006, 2007) and Notre Dame Hounds (2009 and 2010).

Generals: Oh, What a Relief It Is

2013 Allan Cup Champions

Jubilation.  Celebration.  Satisfaction.  These are words that usually come to mind when a team wins a championship.

But for the Bentley Generals, who won their second Allan Cup title on Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Clarenville Caribous, there are another words which are perhaps more fitting.

Relief.

You would be hard pressed to find another team facing as much pressure to win as this year's Bentley Generals.  They already knew they'd be playing in the 2013 Allan Cup as the host team.  But the Generals shocked the senior hockey world when they fired coach Brian Sutter. 

Bentley Generals - Allan Cup Champs (again)

Here's the Hockey Canada media release for the Bentley Generals 2013 Allan Cup championship win...

RED DEER, Alta. – For the second time in five years, the Bentley Generals have won the Allan Cup, claiming Canada’s 105th National Senior Championship with a 3-0 victory over the Clarenville Caribous in Saturday’s championship game at Red Deer Arena.

Bentley and Clarenville Battle for Allan Cup (again)

Here's a look at Hockey Canada's media release for today's Allan Cup final between the Bentley Generals and Clarenville Caribous...

(visit my soundcloud page for some audio from Generals coach Brandin Cote and captain Sean Robertson)

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RED DEER, Alta. – After semifinal victories on Friday, the Bentley Generals and Clarenville Caribous will meet for the 105th Allan Cup, Canada’s National Senior Championship, on Saturday at the Red Deer Arena. The championship game can be seen on TSN beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. Check your local listings for broadcast times in your area.

Bentley defeated the Kenora Thistles 3-2 in Friday’s late semifinal, while Clarenville topped the Rosetown Redwings 6-2 in the early game.

Rebels and Hitmen Renew Rivalry

It just seems wrong that the Red Deer Rebels and Calgary Hitmen have gone nearly a full decade without meeting in the playoffs. (not nearly as bad as the Oilers / Flames playoff drought, but still…)

During the Rebels “glory days” a yearly postseason date with the Hitmen was pretty much set in stone. In the six seasons between 1999 and 2004 they met in the playoffs four times…

1999 – Hitmen swept the Rebels 4-0 in the second round on their way to winning the WHL Championship
2001 – Rebels beat the Hitmen four games to two in second round in their way to winning the Memorial Cup
2003 – Rebels beat the Hitmen four games to one in the opening round on their way to winning the Eastern Conference
2004 – Rebels beat the Hitmen four games to three in the opening round

Fab Four For Optimist Chiefs

2013 AMHL Champions - Red Deer Optimist Chiefs

The Doug Dynasty continues...

At least that's how the players, past and present, refer to the Red Deer Optimist Chiefs streak of four straight Alberta Midget AAA provincial championships.

It's their tribute to the man in charge, Doug Quinn, who has been behind the Chiefs bench for all four title wins (as well as their Telus Cup championship win last April.)

He's a coach these players absolutely love playing for.  And on Saturday, they rewarded him with another solid 60 minute effort leading to another provincial title.

"They're all exciting but I think one is probably a bit extra special," Quinn said following the Chiefs 1-0 won over Edmonton Southside Athletic Club in the fifth and deciding game of the Alberta Midget Hockey League final.