Hausinger ready to lead young Rebels team

“I want to be a guy who can go on the ice and produce and give it 100 per cent every night.”

Hausinger, listed at 5’10” and 178 pounds, posted a respectable 37 points in 40 games for the Rebels after being acquired in November from Kootenay along with Brett Davis. He’s back with Red Deer after having been traded to Kootenay following the 2017-17 season.

He might be in tough to keep up with his younger teammates if Saturday’s fitness testing is any indication.

“They definitely blew me out of the water and it was a humbling experience for me, awesome for me to see guys are so committed and put in the work this summer,” he admitted.

Hausinger shared some interesting thoughts on last season where the Rebels finished fifth in the WHL Central Division before being swept in the first round of playoffs.

“I think last year we held back a little bit. We didn’t give our full effort. We knew we had the talent. I felt like at some points we weren’t giving our full effort and that hurt us towards the end of the year,” he admitted.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone outside of Red Deer that expects the Rebels to be much of a factor this season. That’s of no concern to Hausinger, however.

“We’re going to be young, that’s why our older guys have to show up and the young guys have to learn and adapt fast.

“Every year when you put on that Rebels logo, you’re not looking to be in the middle of the pack.”

Hausinger, forward Brett Davis and defenceman Ethan Sakowich are the three 20-year-olds on the current Rebels roster and, undoubtedly, will significantly factor into any success a young, largely inexperienced team will have.

Training camp runs all week long at the Centrium leading up to Saturday’s Black and White Game (11 a.m.)

by Troy Gillard

Hausinger ready to lead young Rebels team

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