Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid focused on building relationships during training camp

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So when the team hits the ice for the first time Thursday, Habscheid wants the players to be themselves.

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“What I want to see early on is see them as they are, who they are as humans, be themselves, playing the way they’re comfortable playing, and be the way they’re comfortable being as people,” he told the media Tuesday.

In 18 years of coaching, the 62-year-old has amassed 582 wins — sixth most in WHL history — in 1,166 regular season games. In 139 playoff games, he has 75 wins.

He led the Kelowna Rockets to a WHL title in 2003 before claiming the Memorial Cup Championship in 2004 as the host team.

Most recently, he won a WHL championship with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2018-19.

He wants to do the same for the city of Red Deer, as well as the Rebels organization and its fans.

“We’re in a city that has won before and we want to get them back there again. We have a good group and Brent knows what’s going on, [as do] the coaching staff and support staff. I like building that as a team because before the players can be a team you have to be a really close-knit team as a staff. Not only the staff, but the city. No matter what, this team is representing the city and we want to make sure we’re doing it proud.”

Players are to check in for training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 27, with on-ice sessions beginning Thursday at 8 a.m., and continuing through Friday at the Centrium.

The inaugural Mikel McIver Cup will take place Saturday, Aug. 30 with four teams battling for the new and assuredly coveted championship trophy.

Following the tournament, there will be a scrimmage Monday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. followed by the annual Black and White game on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. from the Centrium. Admission into the game is a donation to the Red Deer Food Bank.

The Rebels also unveiled snazzy upgrades to the facility including a brand new main dressing room, an expanded workout room, a new player entrance and lounge, nutrition bar, and recovery room with steam room, showers, and cold plunge. There’s also a shooting room still under development.

“When Brent [Sutter] and I were in this league, we never had this, and times have changed for the better. Now, it’s the Taj Mahal and I think it helps the coaching staff because we want our players to come here and love coming here. Having a facility like this sure doesn’t hurt the experience.”

Habscheid added it certainly won’t hurt recruitment either, alluding to the NCAA rule changes.

As has been well publicized, rules now allow Canadian Hockey League players to transition over to playing NCAA Div. 1 hockey in the United States, and vice versa.

The rule change has impacted the CHL and specifically the Rebels in a major way, with now former captain Ollie Josephson committing to the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks to play NCAA Div. I hockey for the 2025-26 season — news which broke less than two weeks before training camp.

It’s something Sutter heavily lamented in an interview with rdnewsNOW last week.

“It’s a loss for sure, he’s the captain of the team, but we’re not the only team that’s happened to,” Habscheid said about Josephson.

“It’s a bit of a trend. It’s unfortunate, but he made a decision and that’s a personal decision, so we just move on from it. It gives someone else an opportunity to move into that situation.”

The Rebels will play four preseason games following the conclusion of training camp. Two will take place at the Centrium on Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. Calgary and Friday, Sept. 12 vs. Lethbridge. Both are set for 7 p.m.

The Western Hockey League regular season will begin on Friday, Sept. 19 when the Rebels welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Centrium at 7 p.m.

“We want team success, we want individual success, and to help them along the way. Like anything, it’s based on communication and relationships and that takes time. I think I have a way of doing things, but I’m smart enough to know I don’t know everything. I have a lot to learn and what I’m trying to learn is personalities and getting to know the people. That’s most important right now.”

The Rebels will be without Samuel Drancak this week as he practices with the Czechia national team for an upcoming tournament. He will join the team later on.

Meantime, Rebels 19^th overall pick in round one of the CHL Import draft, Czech forward Matej Mikes will also not be at camp because of an offseason injury. It’s unknown how long he will be sidelined.

A full list the camp roster will be unveiled later this week.

Once again, 106.7 REWIND Radio is the home of the Red Deer Rebels this season — catch all games (not including preseason) broadcast LIVE on the station, with play-by-play broadcaster Troy Gillard. Home game broadcasts start a half hour before puck drop, and road games start 10 minutes prior. Recaps will be posted to rdnewsNOW.com after every game, along with feature stories throughout the year.