(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

AN "EXCITING, COMPETITIVE TEAM"

Head coach Dave Struch shares Rebels expectations for 2024-25 season

Aug 28, 2024 | 1:15 PM

The Red Deer Rebels 2024 Training Camp starts tomorrow, and head coach Dave Struch says it’s a unique opportunity for younger players to show what they can do.

With players like Chase Wutzke, Ollie Josephson and more getting drafted for the NHL over the summer, there’s more room for young players to create a lasting impression in this year’s training camp.

Related: Rebels’ Josephson and Wutzke get names called at NHL Draft

“Again, it’s back to opportunity. Young guys and older guys to take on bigger, better roles,” Struch said. “Losing players just gives others the opportunity to step up and have an impact.”

For young players hoping to get their gloves on some Rebels experience, Struch said “to take advantage of the opportunity,” as it’s a great league, and to watch for how Rebels staff and players carry themselves and put their best selves forward on the ice.

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He said players should be prepared for an intense weekend of training, starting with on and off-ice fitness examinations on August 29, to follow up with the work they’ve done over the summer.

Related: Rebels announce 2024 Training Camp schedule

“Every coach uses the words details and habits and we’re not going to veer from that, those are really important things,” he said. “How we go into the season will depend on how we work through this first month. Our preparations through the summer, I hope that helps us so when we get on the ice the guys are ready to go.”

Over the summer, Struch said coaching staff members took time to meet with each other to work on the leadership side of the team and grow as a unit. He added that he looks forward to growing closer to players too as the pre-season begins as he just stepped into the head coach role in March.

Related: Rebels fire coach after 7-5 loss and WHL Playoffs looming

“One of the things I didn’t get to do last year was build relationships with the players as individuals and as a group which for me, as a coach, is really, really important, so I’m looking forward to that,” he said.

Struch shared some of his other goals for the team this season.

“We just have to get off to the right start. Game one, we want to be prepared, we want to get better every day. We want to carry ourselves the right way. As much as we are here to develop hockey players, we want to develop really good people first and foremost,” he said. “Hockey, if we do things right, will take care of itself and that’s the individual side of things. We want these guys to move on to bigger and better things in their future, whether it be on the ice or off the ice. The experience they gain as a Rebel is going to be a bonus in how we do things.”

For fans, Struch said the preparation they have done should make them an “exciting, competitive team” to watch.

A full pre-season schedule, which follows the long weekend Training Camp, can be found here.

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