Rebels in final preparations for long-awaited first game

By the time the Rebels hit the ice Friday night it’ll have been 352 days since their last game on March 10, 2020 versus Swift Current.

“I know a lot of the guys are probably getting really amped up, really excited to get their game going. (But we’re) just trying to keep a level head and make sure we have a good game,” shared veteran forward Chris Douglas.

“It is going to be a big relief. For me as a 20-year-old and having this opportunity in my last season I’m just thankful that Alberta, the league and the Rebels organization were able to pull this whole thing off.”

The Rebels were 2-1-1-1 versus Medicine Hat last season while the Tigers were 3-1-1-0 versus Red Deer. Given everything that’s gone on over the past year, what to expect this weekend is anyone’s guess.

“We are mostly focused on us. We haven’t really talked too much about Medicine Hat,” noted Assistant Coach Ryan Colville.

“They’re a team we know well through the years, and it is tough because we’re working in a lot of younger guys and it’s such a long gap between the last game and now. We just want to make sure we’re playing the way that we want to play.”

All things considered, with living at the Centrium and not starting the season until now, Colville says life feel pretty normal when practice is underway.

“Obviously coaches have to wear masks but once you get the drills going you don’t really notice much. Guys are responding really well out there. They’re working themselves back into it and they’re all excited to get to play somebody different this weekend.”

You can catch both of this weekend’s games between the Rebels and Tigers live on 106.7 REWIND Radio, Friday starting at 6 p.m. and Saturday starting at 7:30 p.m.

by Troy Gillard

Rebels in final preparations for long-awaited first game

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