Rebels Roster Taking Shape

We're starting to get a real good idea as to what the 2012-13 Red Deer Rebels roster will look like.

On Thursday, six more players were reassigned following another scrimmage game at the Penhold Multiplex...

Cole Chorney              F             Beaumont, AB             1996

Mathieu Lapointe        F             Edmonton, AB             1996

Matt Mitchell               G             Calgary, AB                 1995

Lynnden Pastachak     F              Bienfait, SK                1996

Tanner Reynolds         D             Calgary, AB                 1996

Chase Thudium           F             Sylvan Lake, AB          1996

Black / White Game Rosters

Here are the rosters for tonight's McDonald's Black/White Game at the Enmax Centrium.  Game time is 7pm.  Admission is $2 for the Red Deer Firefighters Charity Fund...
TEAM WHITE
Coaches - Brandon Sutter, Ted Vandermeer

#	Name	Hometown	YOB
30	Grant Naherniak	Moose Jaw, SK	96
31	Matt Mitchell	Calgary, AB	95
2	Holden Daley	Sherwood Park, AB	96
3	Jake MacLachlan	Fernie, BC	96
4	Haydn Fleury	Carlyle, SK	96
6	Stephen Hak	Winnipeg, MB	94
7	Kevin Pochuk	Winnipeg, MB	95
8	Riley Boomgaarden	Grande Prairie, AB	94
9	Meyer Nell	Boissevain, MB	97
10	Dexter Bricker	Saskatoon, SK	95
11	Cory Millette	Storthoaks, SK	95
12	Colten Mayor	St. Albert, AB	93
14	Lynnden Pastachak	Bienfait, SK	96
15	Jesse Miller	Winnipeg, MB	94
16	Joel Hamilton	Cochrane, AB	94
17	Trace Elson	St. Albert, AB	94
18	Scott Feser	Red Deer, AB	95
19	Vukie Mpofu	Saskatoon, SK	96
23	Adam Kambeitz	Coaldale, AB	92
24	Mathew Dumba	Calgary, AB	94
25	Marc McCoy	Edmonton, AB	94

 
TEAM BLACK
Coaches - Devin Francon, Colin Fraser

#	Name	Hometown	YOB
30	Taz Burman	Vancouver, BC	97
31	Bolton Pouliot	Calgary, AB	94
2	Devan Fafard	Carlyle, SK	94
3	Jan Bittner	Most, CZR	93
4	Tanner Reynolds	Calgary, AB	96
5	Cody Thiel	Bruno, SK	93
6	Cole Perison	Kamloops, BC	97
7	Austin Strand	Calgary, AB	97
8	Kayle Doetzel	Rosetown, SK	95
9	Conner Bleackley	High River, AB	96
10	Turner Elson	St. Albert, AB	92
11	Chase Thudium	Sylvan Lake, AB	96
12	Mathieu Lapointe	Edmonton, AB	96
14	Charles Inglis	Saskatoon, SK	92
15	Brayden Burke	Edmonton, AB	97
16	Cole Chorney	Beaumont, AB	96
17	Chad Robinson	Minnedosa, MB	93
18	Grayson Pawlenchuk	Ardrossan, AB	97
19	Brooks Maxwell	Raymond, AB	94
20	Earl Webb	Calgary, AB	96
22	Tyson Ness	Grande Prairie, AB	93

Happy Return For Hamilton

As I mentioned last night, it was great to see the Rebels veterans back on the ice for the first time this week.  It was especially great to see last year's injured players back out there at full speed.

The one guy you perhaps feel the best for is Joel Hamilton.  No one has had a longer, tougher road back to the ice.

It was a scary moment when Joel suffered a back injury on February 11th which ended his season.  A seemingly harmless hit along the bench-side boards versus the Moose Jaw Warriors ended up in Joel fracturing his L1 and L2 vertebrae (see my blog from Feb. 12 for more).

Brent Sutter Takes Over As Rebels GM

He'd long been thinking about making a move to bring a General Manager.  In the end, he needed look no further than in the mirror to find his man.

This afternoon, Red Deer Rebels Owner/President Brent Sutter announced that is taking over as the team's General Manager.

Jesse Wallin will now focus solely on his head coaching duties.

A New Hope

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."

Cheesy Star Wars reference?  Absolutely. 

Applicable to the Red Deer Rebels?  Absolutely.

The Rebels are making it very clear that the disastrous, injury-riddled 2012-2013 season is now a thing of the past... the very distant past... and that this is their time to 'strike back!' (insert lightsaber sound effect here)

Rebels Trim Coaching Staff

Chris Neiszner

There will be one less man behind the Red Deer Rebels bench this season.

GM and Head Coach Jesse Wallin announced that the Rebels have not renewed the contract of Assistant Coach Chris Neiszner for the 2012-13 season.

Neiszner, who played four seasons with the Rebels from 2001-05, joined the team's coaching staff prior to the 2010-11 season.

In announcing the move, Wallin made it clear the decision was not based on performance... but instead on the return of some 'help from above."

The Eagles Have Landed Sutter

The 65th season of Innisfail Eagles hockey has taken flight, quickly.

The Chinook Hockey League team confirmed today that Brian Sutter is their new Head Coach, bringing along longtime assistants Brian Stephenson and Jason Lenz and other support staff with him.

Brian spent five of the past six seasons coaching the Bentley Generals.  He guided them to four Allan Cup appearances including their championship win in 2009.