Additional Camp Notes

Other Camp Notes:

Competing for a spot on the blueline next week will be Innisfail native Nick Bell, a training camp invite. Bell, a 19 year-old who was drafted as a Bantam in 2005 by the Prince George Cougars, played a year of midget hockey as a 17 year old with the AAA Optimist Rebels under Trevor Keeper, and played Junior A last season with Okotoks, making the All-Rookie team while scoring eight goals and adding 29 assists for 37 points.


Keeper, who, by the way, WILL NOT be back coaching the AAA's this season, (Doug Quinn will take over) had this to say about Bell.

"He was an offensive defenseman with us. He sees the puck well, and anticipates well. He scares you as a coach a bit because he gambles, but 90 percent of the tme it pays off for him because of his ability to read the game."

"His skill set, physically, there a lot of things kind of average for him, but he has all around skills to make him succesful. His biggest attribute is his game sense. From what I've seen I think he has the capability to play on a WHL powerplay. He is very posied with the puck. I thought two years ago,he could play in the Western League because of his offensive abilties."

Rebs head coach Jesse Wallin had this to say: "He's got some Junior A experience and was a prospect in the league up until a couple of years ago. we think he has the ability to play at this level, so we'll see how his camp goes, how he fits in, and if this is where he wants to be."

So there you have it. Nick Bell could have an outside chance to make this team. With Tommi Kivisto gone, the only four locks are Morin, Petrovic, Archer, and Weller. Brad Deagle, Joel Kot, Matt Pufahl and Jindra Barack are the likely candidates battling for the other spots. Of that group, there really doesn't seem to be a Powerplay speciality other than Morin either.
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As for the legend of Curtis McKenzie.....the final nail in the coffin will be when he doesn't show up at Rebels camp Sunday, and it doesn't look like he will. After a monster season with the Penticton Vees in the BCHL, McKenzie was drafted by the Dallas Stars, and is committed to the Miami of Ohio Redhawks in the NCAA.

Wallin: "I don't know if you'd ever say 100 percent, but it certainly doesn't sound like he's going to be coming. He hasn't informed me that he'll be here so we're not expecting him at this point. From our standpoint, we'd love to have him, but if he chooses to go the other way, that opportunity won't always be here for him. We'll continue on without him."

Mckenzie would be a coup, but it looks as though this story will have an unfortunate conclusion as far as the Rebels go. He would have provided the answer to the question of the final top six forward.

AW