Dawson Barteaux is set to play at the Westerner Park Centrium for the first time as a member of the Winnipeg ICE. (Photo: Rob Wallator)

By Dan Hermanutz

barteaux's back

Former Rebels captain returns to Red Deer with Winnipeg ICE

Jan 30, 2020 | 4:00 PM

A familiar face is returning to the Westerner Park Centrium Friday as former Rebels captain Dawson Barteaux is in town to face his old club.

The Winnipeg ICE are here to play the Rebels tomorrow night, the second of a three game road trip through Alberta. The ICE lost to Calgary 3-2 on Wednesday.

Barteaux said that although coming back to the place he once called home is nice, there is still a job to do.

“I’m happy I get to come back this quick, for sure,” he said after practicing at the Centrium on Thursday. “It’s a special place in my heart after all the years here, and how I’ve developed, and the coaching staff, I have a lot of good memories.

“I’m happy to be back but when it comes to Friday night we mean business and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Since his departure from the Rebels at the January 10 WHL Trade Deadline in a deal that saw the Rebels collect six draft picks in return, Barteaux has assumed a role for the ICE similar to the one he had in Red Deer, including power-play time.

In seven games with Winnipeg, a team gearing up for the playoffs, he has collected two goals and eight points.

“I think the big thing we have is the skill level on this team. James (Patrick, head coach) implements a really hard work ethic, and that (along) with skill is really dangerous. With the skill we have up front and the skill we have on the backend too, we can really be a threat offensively. That’s our biggest strength.”

Barteaux spent four seasons with Red Deer, tallying 91 points in 194 games, and was a part of three playoff runs.

The Foxwarren, Manitoba native will be seeing plenty of familiar faces tonight (Thursday) before getting down to business on Friday.

“I’m going to go see my billets and they’re going to come over. Lots of those guys I’ve been playing with since I was 16 and they’ll be forever friends so I’m looking forward to it.”

“I’m going to go see my billets and they’re going to come over. Lots of those guys I’ve been playing with since I was 16 and they’ll be forever friends so I’m looking forward to it.”

The last time these two teams met, the ICE walked away with a 6-0 victory in Winnipeg on Jan. 11. The game was Barteaux’s first with his new club and saw him register two assists.

Friday’s game goes at 7 p.m. at the Westerner Park Centrium. The Rebels will be wearing special uniforms for the WHL Suits Up to Promote Organ Donation campaign.