Former Rebels Still Playing

Just thought I'd give you some info here:

Former Red Deer Rebels who are still playing in the NHL playoffs:

G Cam Ward - Carolina Hurricanes
-If the postseason ended today, Wardo would be in the running for his second career Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. He outdueled Martin Brodeur in round one, and has helped carry the 'Canes to a 2-1 series lead on the heavily favored Boston Bruins.

C Boyd Gordon - Washington Capitals
-A smart, defensive-minded forward, Gordon has been one of those valuable foot soldiers for the Caps that you'll need in any playoff run. Gordon has played in all 10 Washington games, and registered two assists.

RW Kris Versteeg - Chicago Blackhawks
-Love this kid. Versteeg burst onto the NHL scene this season (I told you so) and was named as one of three finalists for the Calder trophy. He led all Hawks players in first-round scoring, registering seven points in a six-game series win over the Calgary Flames. In nine total games, Kris has two goals and six assists for eight points.

C Colin Fraser - Chicago Blackhawks
-Fraser has always played like a dog going after a bone, the perfect style for a lengthy playoff run. Chicago though, has stayed relatively healthy so far through nine games, and Fraser has only dressed for one contest, (Calgary - game three) when Patrick Kane sat out with the flu.

C Brandon Sutter - Carolina Hurricanes
-Sutter played in 50 games with the 'Canes during the regular season, picking up six points, but hasn't played with the big club since Feb. 17th. Sutter is up with the team though as a Black ace, and could see action if the (healthy so far) 'Canes run into injury problems.

D Derek Meech - Detroit Red Wings
-I'd love to see Meech move on to another team. A swift, smooth skating, puck-moving d-man, Meech could probably play on any top six in the NHL.....other than Detroit. During the regular season he played in 41 games, both as a dman and at times as a forward, registering 7 points. So far in the playoffs though, he's been relegated to the press box.

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Meanwhile, over at the World Hockey Championships in Switzerland, there are only a couple of former Rebels playing for their respective countries:

Colby Armstrong - Canada - 6 games, 2 assists

Roman Wick - Switzerland - 6 games, 2 goals, 2 assists

Noticably absent: Dion Phaneuf - Canada (injured) Martin Erat - Czech (injured) Martin Hanzal - Czech, Kirill Starkov - Denmark, Vladimir Mihalik - Slovakia

KIVISTO HEADED TO FINLAND/ TEDENBY NOT LIKELY

Rebels D Tommi Kivisto signs in Finland
-Promising blueline prospect not likely returning to Red Deer.

It looks like the blueline plan in Red Deer has suffered a bit of a shakeup for next season. Finnish defenseman Tommi Kivisto, heading into his 18 year-old season, has signed a two-year deal with Jokerit Helsinki (Finland SM-Liiga).

Kivisto had one goal and 21 assists in 65 games with the Rebels this past season, but definitely went through his ups and downs as a player. First, the adjustment, faced by all Europeans. A different culture, a different language, and a different style of play. Not to mention that at 17, Tommi's best years are still ahead of him. A cannon of a shot from the blueline, yet he was only able to muster one goal, and found himself used less and less in an offensive role as the season wore on.

I talked with Rebels owner and President Brent Sutter this morning:

"We're obviously disappointed, as we've been informed that he may not want to come back here. I've talked to his agent at length about this, as has Jesse (Wallin), and everyone feels that he should be back. The agent feels he should be coming back, NHL teams that have shown interest in him all feel that he should be back, but for whatever reason, Tommi is thinking possibly of not coming back."

-As mentioned, it was a roller coaster of a year when it came to the Tommi Kivisto story. One year ago, he was pegged as first round, possibly top-10 pick in the '09 NHL entry draft. In hindsight, this projection was way too ambitious.

Red Deer took him 6th overall in the CHL Import Draft, and big things were expected. After a difficult season on another struggling, albeit youthful Rebels squad, Kivisto has seen his draft ranking slip all the way down to 119th in CSB's final term. Coupled with a less-than inspiring World Junior performance, and it could mean Kivisto slips to the mid-to late rounds this summer in the NHL draft. This latest development will do nothing to help that draft position.

Here's Brent Sutter again:

"Its disappointing and it's a situation that occurs with these European players. The chance you take on taking them. The disappointing fact for me is that when you bring a player over at 17 years of age and they think they're going to be stars in the league right away and that's not usually the case. "

"There's a process they have to go through to adjust to the hockey style over here and the lifestyle as well. But for some reason, after he's been here for the one year he feels somewhat uncomfortable about coming back. We're still hoping that we can work through it. It's a situation that I would say is 50 50."

"We drafted him last year and we knew we were getting a player with the potential of being a very good player at the Junior level and the potential of being a possible pro player. But we also knew there was going to be a process that was going to take more than one year......I'll tell you that."

-So where does this leave Red Deer? Kivisto now has a contract, and obviously does intend to play in Finland. The biggest factor that may change that is where (and now if) he gets taken in the NHL entry draft this summer. If his parent club insists that he come back to North America, he may not have much of a choice in the matter.

The bottom line, said Sutter, is this:

"A lot of it with Tommi is that he found out that the league is a lot toughter than he thought it was going to be. I think Tommi isn't looking at it the right way. I think he just wants the quick fix right now and it's not going to be the case. He's gonna find that going back there is going to hurt his development even more."

-If an NHL club feels the same way, we may see Kivisto back in Red Deer next season, but the chances are slim at this point. Kivisto was pegged as a sure-fire top four d-man next season, if not in the top two or three along with Alex Petrovic and Cullen Morin. Now left with no imports, Red Deer may find itself looking for two players in the CHL import draft this summer, a high-end forward and a defenseman, although Sutter has said a "best player available" mentality will most likely apply.
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-Another question: With an obvious New Jersey Devils connection, does the Mattias Tedenby (pictured) to North American Junior hockey rumors have any merit. Brent quickly shot that down.

"I think that's someone just talking. No truth to that whatsoever. If Tedenby comes over here from my understading in talking with the Devils, they'll be signing him and make him turn pro, and that's all that's been told to myself. There's been nothing ever said to me that made me think Tedenby was going to play Junior hockey next year. "

Matt Dumba

The Red Deer Rebels have selected Calgary, AB defenseman Matt Dumba with their first round pick, 4th overall, in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.
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Dumba played ‘AAA’ Bantam with the Calgary Bronks of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey

Matt Dumba
DOB: July 25, 1994
Hometown: Calgary, AB
HT: 5’11”
WT: 165 LBS
Shoots: Right

Stats:

08-09: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 33gp-20g-18a-38pts-103pim
08-09: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 2gp-3g-0a-3pts-2pim
08-09: Calgary Bronks (KIBIHT) -- 7gp-4g-3a-7pts-4pim
08-09: Calgary North Stars (Alberta Cup) -- 5gp-4g-2a-6pts-10pim
07-08: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam) -- 33gp-3g-8a-11pts-26pim
07-08: Calgary Bronks (AMBHL AAA bantam - PLF) -- 2gp-1g-1a-2pts-2pim

Dumba also participated in the 2009 Alberta Cup.He was named the Most Valuable Player and Top Defenseman in the South Division of the AMBHL this season.


Some thoughts On Matt Dumba from Rebels VP of Hockey Ops Randy Peterson:

"He can run your powerplay. A big time physical player. He's a driven kid with a great family. We think he has tremendous ability with a big-time shot. Great feet and mobility for a young guy."

"He had an excellent Alberta Cup. One of the top defensemen if not thee top defenseman. He has pro potential, there's no question. He patterns himself after Dion Phaneuf in terms of the rugged play and mobility. We sure see pro upside in him."

"With those top four that went, we were very excited about having (Dumba) there. A physical presence with the ability to run your powerplay....that's quite the combination. We sure like what he brings to the table."
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Thoughts from the Head Coach of the Bantam AAA CGY Bronks, Shane Pearsall:

"Red Deer made a great choice. Matt's a team guy, very skilled, great on and off the ice. I look forward to the future he's going to have with Red Deer and am certainly going to be watching it."

"Matt's great from a standpoint of seeing the ice and being able to move the puck. A great shot, aware of things in his own zone, and he can hit. Certain players watch when they cross the blueline because Matt lowered the boom on a few guys crossing through and word got around. A very physical player."

"With his body-size and the way he's been filling out, it for sure makes him a candidate to play as a 16 year-old."

"He's a bit like a Dion Phaneuf type of player. he loves to hit guys when they come over the blueline and he has a big shot. he played with Myles Bell last year, who played at the end of the year with the Regina Pats...so those are two guys that Matt is similar to in terms of style."
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And of course, I talked with Matt himself:

"Red deer is a great organization, very well run, and now I have to prove to them that they did the right thing choosing me. Now I have to go out and prove that I should be there."

"I knew there was a top five there, and those four dmen with Reinhart, Pouliot, and Reilly, we were all in it together. I ended up with a great organization and I couldn't ask for more."

"I'm an offensive dman I would say..I try and stay neutral, and I'd like to see myself as Dion Phaneuf one day."
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