The RDP Kings Hockey team for 2024-25. (Supplied)

By RDP Athletics

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RDP Kings Hockey on the hunt for three consecutive ACAC championships

Oct 15, 2024 | 10:21 AM

The Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings Hockey team is looking to make program history in 2024/2025 with sights on winning its third consecutive Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) gold medal.

“The goal is to have the second, third and fourth year student-athlete’s step up and fill the leadership roles,” says Trevor Keeper, Head Coach, RDP Kings Hockey, after losing a handful of key players this offseason. “We had a lot of players last year who were in their second, third and fourth years who have now won the championship twice. These student-athletes are stepping up to a new level as they prepare for the upcoming season.”

Keeper welcomed back 17 players from last year’s Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championship-winning team, including defenceman Tanner Sklaruk, who was named to the ACAC AllConference team. Of the 17 returning players, 14 were also part of the roster two years ago when the Kings secured their first championship since 1994. Among them is defenceman Brennan Davis, who has been named team captain by his teammates and coaches.

“Brennan Davis has the personality to lead both on the ice and in the dressing room,” says Keeper, an ACAC Coach of the Year. “His teammates unanimously chose him as captain this year. While we’ve named three assistant captains, our leadership group includes eight student-athletes who understand that not wearing a letter doesn’t diminish their responsibilities. This is crucial because we want our leadership group to not only develop but also sustain our team’s culture.”

Forwards Kody Willick (Saskatoon), Alex Bernauer (Saskatoon), Clay Sleeva (Canora, Saskatchewan) and Kasey Hiemstra (Big Valley) have joined the two-time defending ACAC champions.

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Keeper has added Nathan DeGraves (Open Studies), Tristan Baumung (Bachelor of Education) and sixfoot-five Tyson Perkins (Business Certificate) on defence.

Newcomer Joel Favreau joins veterans Kristian Lyon (Business Administration – General Management) and Evan Fradette (Open Studies) in goal. Last season, St. Albert’s Fradette led the Kings with a 2.39 goals against average and 0.911 save percentage. Langley’s Lyon (0.904) also had a strong 2023/2024 campaign, tying graduating Playoff MVP Arik Weersink with six regular season wins in the RDP net.

“The first two things we look for are hockey skill and competitiveness but our program’s success has been built on having a more mature team,” says Keeper about his recruitment process. “I try to look for guys who are going to be good students and with us for three to five years. The players we brought in are good students, have good character and fit into our culture that has been established.”

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will open the new campaign against the SAIT Trojans at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m.

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