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Rebels raring to go with training camp underway

Aug 24, 2018 | 4:29 PM

Things are going just about as well as they could be at Red Deer Rebels training camp.

That is if you ask d-man Jacob Herauf and assistant coach Brad Flynn who both say they’re optimistic with how things have gone over the first couple days.

“I’ve been really impressed with the fitness level of our players coming back this year, and the general excitement around training camp is always great,” says Flynn, who joined up with the Rebels last spring following some time spent with Corpus Christi of the junior ‘A’ NAHL.

“They’re close and they’re attention to detail and our work ethic, even on day two, has been outstanding.”

Though Flynn wasn’t with the team last year, he says with the number of returning guys, learning from last season’s late run into the playoffs will help the team do better and be more consistent throughout the season.

“It was a long summer and for the most part of the season we were a below .500 hockey team,” says Herauf who put up two goals and 16 assists in his second season with Red Deer in 2017/18. “We put some wins together and got into the playoffs, but then once we got in, we just weren’t performing the way we should be and that was the story of the whole season.”

The Sherwood Park native adds that should be different in the upcoming WHL campaign.

“I think we can make a run for it this year, but with Brent [Sutter], it’s always about working hard and competing every day and having fun,” he says. “This year we’re putting more emphasis on offense and scoring goals and creating offense, whether it’s from our blueline or forwards. I think the message is the same, work hard and get rewarded and have some fun while we’re doing it.”

Training camp runs through next Wednesday at the Enmax Centrium. The black and white exhibition game is Wednesday night at 7 p.m.