RDC Kings, Queens Ranked #1 Heading Into Volleyball Provincials

ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship - Hosted by Red Deer College

Edmonton, February 18, 2014 – Red Deer College is honoured to host the 2013-14 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men’s Volleyball Championships on February 21-23, 2014. The top teams from Northern and Southern Alberta will converge on Red Deer College to determine who this year's top volleyball team will be. It's going to be a weekend tournament filled with tough competition!

Friday, February 21
1:00 PM Game 1 GPRC (#6) vs. SAIT (#3)

3:00 PM Game 2 NAIT (#7) vs. GMU (#2)

6:00 PM Game 3 BC (#8) vs. RDC (#1)

8:00 PM Game 4 UAA (#5) vs. MHC (#4)

Saturday, February 22
1:00 PM Game 5 LG2 vs. LG1

3:00 PM Game 6 LG4 vs. LG3

6:00 PM Game 7 WG1 vs. WG2

8:00 PM Game 8 WG3 vs. WG4

Sunday, February 23
11:00 AM Game 9 WG5 vs. WG6

1:00 PM Game 10 LG 7 vs. LG8

3:30 PM Game 11 WG7 vs. WG8

ALL GAMES AT RDC MAIN GYM


ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship - Hosted by Grande Prairie Regional College

Friday, February 21
1:00 PM Game 1 King’s (#5) vs. BC (#4)

3:00 PM Game 2 LAKE (#8) vs. RDC (#1)

6:00 PM Game 3 OC (#6) vs. GPRC (#3)

8:00 PM Game 4 NAIT (#7) vs. GMU (#2)

Saturday, February 22
1:00 PM Game 5 LG2 vs. LG1

3:00 PM Game 6 LG4 vs. LG3

6:00 PM Game 7 WG1 vs. WG2

8:00 PM Game 8 WG3 vs. WG4

Sunday, February 23
11:00 AM Game 9 WG5 vs. WG6

1:00 PM Game 10 LG 7 vs. LG8

3:30 PM Game 11 WG7 vs. WG8

www.acac.ab.ca

Local Sports: February 18

The Red Deer Rebels solid grip on a WHL playoff spot is now rather tenuous.

The Rebels sit just two points ahead of Prince Albert for 8th in the Eastern Conference after a 7-1 drubbing in Calgary on Monday. The Rebels also fell 4-1 at home to Saskatoon on Saturday, one night after their 3-2 overtime win in Edmonton.

The Rebels host the Oil Kings for their first of five straight games at the Enmax Centrium.
---

Senior AAA Provincials

The Bentley Generals beat the Stony Plain Eagles 3-2 in overtime on Monday at the Red Deer Arena. The Generals have a 3-0 lead in the provincial semi-final series with game four coming this Saturday at Stony Plain.

The Innisfail Eagles and Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs are tied 1-1 in the other semi-final series, game three goes Friday night in Innisfail.

--- MORE BELOW ---

Feb 10: Local Sports Recap

The Red Deer Rebels finished off their 4 games in 5 nights road trip with a 7-1 loss in Prince George on Saturday. The Rebels picked up just 1 one a possible 8 points on the trip. They return home this week for games on Wednesday (Medicine Hat) and Saturday (Saskatoon) sitting in 8^th place in the WHL Eastern Conference standings.

---


Regular season play wrapped up in the Chinook Hockey League over the weekend...

Friday
Innisfail Eagles 1, Fort Saskatchewan 0








Saturday
Bentley Generals 6, Stony Plain 3

 






Final Regular Season Standings
1. Bentley 42 points
2. Innisfail 32 points
3. Fort Saskatchewan 31 points
4. Okotoks 15 points (not taking part in AAA Provincials)
5. Stony Plain 14 points

(PLAYOFFS INFO BELOW...)

Local Athletes Head To Alberta Winter Games

The 2014 Alberta Winter Games get underway on Thursday in Banff and Canmore.

The 2014 Alberta Winter Games run from February 6-9th young athletes from eight zones will participate in 22 sporting competitions in both locations.

Below is the list of athletes representing Zone 4 from Red Deer and Red Deer County.  For a list of the rest of our local Zone 4 athletes visit www. albertagames.com.

Aasman	Jayda	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Adkins	Ryan	Archery	Red Deer
Allin	Erin	Ringette	Red Deer
Beaudoin	Spencer	Ringette	Red Deer
Biletsky	Parker	Volleyball Male	Red Deer
Bilodeau	Shaelynne	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Boorse	Mikayla	Curling	Red Deer
Brown	Wade	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer
Bussard	Jade	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Butler	Ruby	Artistic Gymnastics	Red Deer
Carriere	Tye	Hockey Male	Red Deer
Colonna	Skylar	Hockey Female	Red Deer

Coutts	Tyra	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Cudillo	Lester	Boxing	Red Deer
Cudillo	Lowie	Boxing	Red Deer
Cundict	Elizabeth	Ringette	Red Deer
DeMale	Shae	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Domoney	Kaylee	Ringette	Red Deer
Evans	Tracey	Archery	Red Deer
Fairbrother	Keesha	Ringette	Red Deer
Farguson	William	Judo	Red Deer
Fitzsimons	Mandi	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Flanagan	Anthony	Judo	Red Deer
Freeman	Mya	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Frenette	Natalie	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Fuerbringer	Joshua	Speed Skating	Red Deer
Garbe	Janaya	Ringette	Red Deer
Graham	Christopher	Volleyball Male	Red Deer
Gray	Kieren	Speed Skating	Red Deer

Gray	Nolan	Speed Skating	Red Deer
Green	Owen	Alpine Skiing	Red Deer
Guthrie	Adam	Squash	Red Deer
Halford	Claire	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Hayes	Nina	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Heron	Matthew	Volleyball Male	Red Deer
Hovdestad	Amy	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Huddleston	Mackenzie	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Hurry	Devyn	Fencing	Red Deer
Jewkes	Lauren	Ringette	Red Deer
Johnson	Bailey	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer
Junck	Adam	Volleyball Male	Red Deer
Kopec	Bryce	Badminton	Red Deer

Kosack	Zachary	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer
Krause	Liam	Volleyball Male	Red Deer
Lamont	Kameron	Fencing	Red Deer
Laye	Sierra	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Lee	Daniel	Judo	Red Deer
Love Hollman	Eryn	Curling	Red Deer
Love Hollman	Mason	Curling	Red Deer
Macleod	Logan	Squash	Red Deer
Marshall	Luke	Hockey Male	Red Deer
Mast	Cody	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer
Meckling	Abby	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Metcalfe	Janelle	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Morlock	Justin	Curling	Red Deer
Mulder	Amy	Ringette	Red Deer

Nadon	Evan	Badminton	Red Deer
Nasewich	Maegan	Figure Skating	Red Deer
O'Connell	Brandon	Speed Skating	Red Deer
Oakes	Jared	Alpine Skiing	Red Deer
Ostrikoff	Megan	Fencing	Red Deer
Paarup	Jace	Hockey Male	Red Deer
Packard	Kallan	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Patrick	Mercedes	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Pimm	Owen	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer
Rodger	Logan	Judo	Red Deer
Sandquist	Chantelle	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Saunders	Brad	Biathlon	Red Deer

Saunders	Brad	Biathlon	Red Deer
Saunders	Brielle	Biathlon	Red Deer
Saunders	Devin	Biathlon	Red Deer
Schlachter	Alison	Ringette	Red Deer
Sikora	Genevieve	Freestyle Skiing	Red Deer
Sikora	Sydney	Freestyle Skiing	Red Deer
Sorokan	Hope	Synchronized Swimming	Red Deer
Sosnowski	Gina	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Spicer	Lauren	Speed Skating	Red Deer
Spicer	Stefanie	Speed Skating	Red Deer

St. Pierre	Isabel	Ringette	Red Deer
St.Pierre	Jenna	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Starratt	Bailey	Archery	Red Deer
Stecyk	Cale	Hockey Male	Red Deer
Suhalj	Anna	Volleyball Female	Red Deer
Tieken-Maerz	Kendra	Ringette	Red Deer
Towers	Talyn	Archery	Red Deer
Very	Jason	Hockey Male	Red Deer
Wiebe	Dahlin	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer
Wiley	Kaitlyn	Archery	Red Deer
Wlad	Carley	Hockey Female	Red Deer
Doyon	Joshua	Cross Country Skiing	Red Deer County
Flewell	Journey	Volleyball Female	Red Deer County
Janssen	Kendall	Volleyball Female	Red Deer County
Linnell	Kaitlan	Hockey Female	Red Deer County

MacDougall	Bryndelle	Speed Skating	Red Deer County
MacDougall	Connor	Speed Skating	Red Deer County
Sinnamon	Connor	Volleyball Male	Red Deer County
Weberg	Ethan	Hockey Male	Red Deer County
Wood	Adam	Freestyle Skiing	Red Deer County

Tommy Gun's Outdoor Winter Classic - A True Hockey Celebration

The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks may be playing at the legendary hockey setting that is Dodger Stadium (nothing screams “Hockey” like palm trees). A true celebration of the game, however, takes place in Red Deer again this weekend.

The 4^th annual Tommy Gun’s Outdoor Winter Classic [@TGWinterClassic] is on at the Bower Community Rink this weekend. Eight midget teams hit the outdoor ice for games starting Friday afternoon and running through Sunday afternoon.

This year, four Red Deer midget teams are joined this year by squads from Grande Prairie, Lloydminster, Claresholm and Kelowna.

“We just wanted to do a Midget ‘A’ tournament and there was never any ice to do it,” explains Tournament Organizer Al Sim. “We originally planned to do an indoor tournament but something got lost and we never got the indoor ice time. So we looked at the outdoor winter classic the NHL was doing and decided ‘Why don’t we do that too?’”

(more below)

The Hard Hitting Topic of Body Checking

Hey gang.

I am fortunate enough to have been invited by Hockey Alberta to serve as moderator for an interesting, and quite possibly emotional, forum discussion taking place tomorrow night as part of their Annual General Meeting.

The topic of discussion… body checking. There has been no shortage of opinions voiced both for and against Hockey Alberta’s, followed by Hockey Canada’s, decision to eliminate body checking from pee wee hockey.

The bottom line is there’s no turning back. The decision has been made and the focus of tomorrow night’s forum will be on “what’s next.” Now that this change is being made, how do we (coaches, managers, officials, players, parents, etc.) move forward while also improving the game of hockey?

Allan Cup - One Month Away

allancup2013.ca

Yesterday at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, the 2013 ATB Financial Allan Cup organizing committee gave an update to the local media.

With the tournament now just one month away, excitement for the Senior AAA national championship tournament is starting to pick up. 

Ticket sales are a clear indicator of that excitement as the tournament is already more than 80% sold out.  Tournament Chair Dave Mousseau expects that number to reach 100% by the time the tournament starts on April 15th.

"With our choice of venue being the [Red Deer] Arena, I think the atmosphere there is second to none, especially for championship calibre," Mousseau proclaimed.  "But unfortunately there's only a certain amount of seats in that venue.  With the following that senior hockey has now, it is going to be a sellout."

Rebels Gone Wild

Sometimes, as a broadcaster, you get lucky.



Prior to last night’s game at the Enmax Centrium between the Rebels and Regina Pats, Cam Moon and I were saying “How cool would it be if Paul Charles came to the game tonight?  He’d be a PERFECT intermission guest.”



Most of you probably don’t know who Paul Charles is… he is a scout with the Minnesota Wild.  And, as we’ve all seen, there’s no shortage of Rebels-Wild activity to chat about these days.



Sure enough, about 10 minutes later, Paul walked into the media lounge while Mooner and I were still chatting.  Perfect.



Paul is a big reason why Minnesota drafted Mathew Dumba 7th overall in last year’s NHL Entry Draft.  Before that, he was a big advocate for drafting Darcy Kuemper, which the Wild did in the sixth round (161st overall) of the 2009 draft.



That particular selection is turning out to be quite a steal for the Wild, and Charles couldn’t be happier.

Jeff Truitt: The New Deputy

When Brent Sutter announced that he was stepping back behind the Rebels bench, he also announced that he was bringing another veteran coach with him.

Jeff Truitt brings to Red Deer a long and impressive hockey resume... [ via whl.ca]... Assistant Coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes 1993-96... Head Coach of the Camrose Kodiaks of the AJHL 1997-2000... Kelowna Rockets Assistant Coach 2000-03 and Associate Coach in their Memorial Cup winning season of 2003-04... Rockets Head Coach from 2004-2007.  The Rockets won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions in 2003 and 2005.... Assistant Coach with Springfield in the AHL in 2007-08, and then became the team’s Head Coach in 2008-09.  He was an Assistant Coach with San Antonio of the AHL in 2010-11, and held the same role with Texas (AHL) in 2011-12. Additionally, Truitt was the Moose Jaw Warriors Director of Hockey Operations in 2009-10.

Truitt has experience with Hockey Canada; in 2004 he was an Assistant Coach with the Canadian National Junior Team, where they won a silver medal.  Truitt was also an Assistant Coach with the Canadian National Under-18 Team at the 2007 World Under-18 Championship.

I had a chance to speak with Truitt following his first practice with the Rebels on Thursday afternoon...

The Day After - Wallin Stands Tall

"I'm still a Red Deer Rebel, I always will be."

No hard feelings.

It would have been quite easy for Jesse Wallin to ride off quietly and leave us all wondering he was thinking. 

Instead, the now former head coach of the Red Deer Rebels invited the local media out for one last chat as his way of saying "thanks" and to share his thoughts on his dismissal.

Rebels: Sutter Makes His Biggest Move Yet

If you thought the winds of chance had already reached gale force levels with the Red Deer Rebels this season... today's events turned things up a couple more notches.

Gone are Jesse Wallin and Charles Inglis.  In comes Jeff Truitt.

The reaction since the news came down at lunch time today has been both large and varied.  I'm not much of a gambler, but I'd be quite confident in wagering that today's events set a new Twitter record for use of the #Rebelshockey hashtag.

Here the "coles notes" version of how the Rebels coaching situation has played itself out...

Generals Briefing With Brandin Cote

Despite being the host team this time around, the road to the Allan Cup remains a long and eventful journey for the Bentley Generals.

The Generals, under the guidance of new Head Coach Brandin Cote, split their first two games to open the Chinook Hockey League season last weekend.

They have two more league games this weekend before heading to Saskatchewan for a two game trip next weekend.

Following that, they welcome their long time rivals, the Fort St. John Flyers, for a pair of exhibition games on the Remembrance Day long weekend.

On Thursday, I chatted with Cote about a number of topics concerning his club... including opening weekend, new faces on the Generals roster, and how he's settling into his new gig...

Blazers Blank Rebels

A Tuesday night tilt at the Enmax Centrium versus the league’s hottest team.  The Rebels faced quite a challenge in taking on the Kamloops Blazers.



FIRST PERIOD



Not much in terms of scoring chances for either team in the opening few shifts of the game.  Neither Bolton Pouliot for the Rebels or Taran Kozun for the Blazers was overly busy in the first ten minutes or so.  For the most part, the Rebels did a good job of keeping Blazers forwards at bay.  Turner Elson created the best scoring chances for the Rebels, catching a piece of the goal post with a shot of his own while narrowly setting up Brooks Maxwell with a wide open net not long after.  There was a lot of ‘stop and start’ play in the first period, which probably worked out in favour of the home side.  No score after twenty minutes of play.  Neither side getting a powerplay.  Shots 11-9 favouring Kamloops.



Rebels Trade Kambeitz To Saskatoon

Adam Kambeitz

As soon as Brandon Underwood was acquired from Regina, the rumblings began.

The Rebels have four 20 year old's.  Who will stay?  Who will go?  Surely, they can't trade their captain?

In the end, that's exactly what they did.  Adam Kambeitz is now a member of the Saskatoon Blades.

In return for their fan favorite Captain, the Rebels get a forward whose potential upside is huge.  Christian Stockl put up huge numbers playing midget AAA in Winnipeg (36 goals, 68 points in 38 games last season) and, as GM Brent Sutter noted in the Rebels media release for the trade, addresses the Rebels lack of depth in the '95 age group.  Stockl was teammates with both Jesse Miller and Kevin Pochuk in Winnipeg.

WHL Vice President Discusses Checking To The Head

It’s a bit after the fact now, but I wanted to make sure I shared this you incase you missed it (which if you were at last Friday’s Rebels/Tigers game you would have).



During the second intermission of our broadcast on 106.7 The Drive I had the pleasure of chatting with Richard Doerksen, Vice President of Hockey for the Western Hockey League.

Richard offered some great insight into the WHL’s recent stance on checking to the head, notably Mathew Dumba’s major penalty from opening night back on September 21st. 

Rebels Score Four, Lose Third Straight

In their final game before a heading out on a seven game road trip, the Red Deer Rebels debuted a pair of new faces in their lineup.  Forward Matt Bellerive, who was brought in from the Vancouver Giants, and Brandon Underwood, who was acquired from the Regina Pats.



Rebels fans came into the game looking for a hot start from their club to match the hot summer-like weather outside, and that’s exactly what they would get.  Devan Fafard floated a wrist shot in from the point, Marc McCoy got a piece of the puck, pushing it toward the goal line.  It was a close play, the referee initially waved it off setting the stage for a lengthy video review.  The Rebels got the call, and the goal.  1-0 2:38 into the first period on McCoy’s first goal of the season, assisted by Fafard.



Not long after, the Rebels would go up 2-0 courtesy of Charles Inglis.  He got a piece Joel Hamilton’s sizzling wrist shot from high in the slot to beat Tigers goalie Dawson McCauley at the 4:05 mark.

The home side didn’t stop there, making it 3-0 just 57 seconds later.  Tyson Ness cashed in on his first of the season with Adam Kambeitz earning the lone assist.  Three goals on six shots for the Rebels was enough for the Tigers to replace McCauley with Marek Langhamer between the pipes.



The Tigers would get one goal back before the end of the period.  While shorthanded, Hunter Shinkaruk made a strong play toward the Rebels net.  The net came off of its supports but not before Dylan Bredo put the puck past Rebels goalie Patrik Bartosak for his first goal of the season at 16:20.  Spencer Jensen also earned an assist on the goal.  3-1 Rebels after the first period.  Shots on goal were even at 15 apiece.



Medicine Hat took the game over in the first half of the second period, thanks in large part to penalty trouble on the part of the Rebels.  With Adam Kambeitz in the penalty box for tripping, Trevor Cox tipped home his first of the season.  Kyle Becker and Tyler Lewington with the assists.  3-2 Rebels 3:32 into the middle frame.



Then with Stephen Hak banished for cross checking, Miles Koules with pull the Tigers even, firing home his own rebound short side past Bartosak.  6:27 into the second period, the Rebels three goal lead was gone.  Game tied 3-3.  That would be the score through 40 minutes.  Tigers outshoot the Rebels 16-11 in the second period.



Much of the same in the third period... another Rebels penalty, another Tigers powerplay goal.  Trevor Cox found the back of the net for his second ppg of the night, Boston Leier and Kyle Becker with the assists.  Medicine Hat takes the lead for the first time in this game, 4-3 at the 8:42 mark.



But the Tigers lead was short lived thanks in part, ironically, to a penalty of their own.  Chad Labelle was sent off for delay of game.  Charles Inglis would take advantage by firing home his second goal of the night.  It was also the Rebels second powerplay goal of the game.  Hamilton and Conner Bleackley with the assists at the 11:05 mark of the period.



Life on even terms would not last long for the Rebels.  Jayden Hart would score the Tigers’ first even strength goal of the night at 15:27 with a scorching wrist shot past Bartosak.  Cox earned an assist for his third point of the game.  Ty Stanton also assisted on the Tigers go-ahead goal.


The Rebels would come with a late push, with their net empty, in the final minute.  However, they were unable to score the equalizer.  Medicine Hat pulls out a 5-4 victory.



MOLSON CUP THREE STARS

1. Trevor Cox MH

2.  Joel Hamilton RD

3.  Charles Inglis RD



Next Game... The Rebels visit the Calgary Hitmen for a game Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.  Game time is 7pm.  Cam Moon has the Worley Parsons Cord pregame show on 106.7 The Drive starting at 6:50pm.

Two Game Suspension: Lesson Learned For Dumba?

Amongst his long list of impressive attributes, Mathew Dumba's maturity goes somewhat unnoticed.

His booming shot, offensive prowess, and thunderous hitting power are what steal the headlines most often.  But between the ears, he is just as impressive.  Case in point, his handling of his bit of controversy.

Dumba has been suspended two games by the Western Hockey League for the checking to the head major penalty and game misconduct he incurred Friday night versus the Calgary Hitmen.  (If you haven't seen the hit yet, CLICK HERE!  Dumba sat out Sunday's game in Edmonton and will also sit out Friday's home game versus Medicine Hat.  He will return to the Rebels lineup Saturday night in Calgary.

Not only is he taking things in stride, Dumba also realizes there is a lesson to be learned here.

Hitmen Spoil Rebels Home Opener Party

It’s the night the Rebels, and their loyal fans, had been waiting a long time for.  A chance to turn the page on a very long, difficult, injury-riddles 2011-2012 season.  And what better way to get things going than by taking on one of their arch rivals, the Calgary Hitmen, in their home opener.



The Hitmen came out quick, recording the first six shots on goal, but it was the Rebels who would open the scoring in this one.  A turnover at the Calgary blue line allowed Turner Elson to set up Colten Mayor.  He beat Hitmen goalie Chris Driedger with gloveside wrister to kick start the hometown fans and give the Rebels a 1-0 lead at 6:54 of the first period.



The lid came off the Enmax Centrium a few minutes later when Mathew Dumba lit up Joe Kornelson with a massive open ice hit at the Rebels blue line.  Unfortunately, Dumba was assessed a five minute major penalty for checking to the head and a game misconduct.  He also incurred a second major penalty after dropping the mitts with Darian Henry, who took obvious offense to the huge hit on his Hitmen teammate.



Calgary would take full advantage of their five minute powerplay.  Cody Sylvester would score with just 29 seconds left in the opening period to tie the game 1-1.  Brady Brassart and Pavlo Padakin with the assists.  Shots in the first period were 19-11 in favour of Calgary.



With Dumba’s penalty still on the clock to start the second period, Sylvester struck again to give the Hitmen their first lead of the night.  Brooks Macek and Chase Clayton assisted on the goal which came just 39 seconds into the middle frame.



Another Rebels penalty, another Hitmen goal.  With Turner Elson in the sin bin for tripping, Brady Brassart would put one past Patrik Bartosak.  Cody Sylvester, with his third point of the game, and Zane Jones with the assists.  3-1 Calgary at 6:44 period two.  The Hitmen would take their two goal lead into the final period.



The Rebels would get a powerplay of their own as they sought to overcome their deficit.  In fact, the Rebels found themselves with a pair of man advantages but would come up empty.  



In the final minute of the third period... Turner Elson gave the Rebels a glimmer of hope with his first goal of the season.  3-2 Calgary with 46.5 seconds remaining.  After a Calgary penalty, the Rebels would get two faceoffs deep in Hitmen territory but to no avail.  Final score - Hitmen 3, Rebels 2.  Final shots on net were 34-27 favouring Calgary.



MOLSON CUP THREE STARS

1.  Cody Sylvester CGY

2.  Patrik Bartosak RD

3.  Brady Brassart CGY



Next game... the Rebels visit the reigning WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday afternoon.  Game time from Rexall Place is 2pm.  Cam Moon will be on with the pregame show on 106.7 The Drive starting at 1:50pm.

Rebels: It's Show Time!

I have just one bit of advice for this year's edition of the Red Deer Rebels...

Win... and win often!

Easy to say, I know.  I say it not because I have the power to do anything if they don't... but because their General Manager does.

In an exclusive interview for our next episode of 'Southside Dodge Rebels This Week', Brent Sutter told be he isn't about to sit idly by the sidelines if this current assembled group struggles early.

WHL Central Division Preview

Here are the team previews for the WHL Central Division as compiled and released by the Western Hockey League...

Calgary Hitmen

General Manager: Kelly Kisio

Head Coach: Mike Williamson

2012 pre-season: 4-2-0-0

2011-12 Record: 44-25-2-1, 91pts (2nd in Central Div., 3rd in Eastern Conf.) GF: 273  GA: 221

2011-12 Power Play / Penalty Killing ranking: PP: 20.9% (12th); PK: 81.0% (4th)

2012 Playoffs: Lost in five games to Brandon in first round

2011-12 Top Scorers:

Jimmy Bubnick  72gp-36g-41a-77pts

Cody Sylvester  66gp-23g-45a-68pts

Victor Rask       64gp-33g-30a-63pts