Old-school Rebels hockey fuelling strong start to the season

Not only do they lead the Rebels in that statistic, but those numbers are inside the top 10 league-wide.

Kuzma has dropped the gloves three times this year. Meanwhile, a little over half of Sopiarz’s penalty minutes have come from major penalties for fighting, including four bouts this season.

“I think it’s unique that I can mix in that physicality and toughness. It’s just about the team,” Sopiarz said this week. “I’m going to do it to defend the guys, create a spark, and it’s something I’m willing to do, just doing whatever it takes to win at the end of the day.”

The duo certainly aren’t your stereotypical hockey goons.

Despite the success of defending their teammates, they’ve also produced plenty of offence.

Kuzma is third on the team in scoring with 16 points, and Sopiarz is fifth with 12 points in 17 games.

They proved that on Tuesday when both of them scored in arguably their toughest test yet against the Kamloops Blazers.

Sopiarz jumped to his teammates’ defence as the 18-year-old fought Madden Tymchak after Rebels forward Jake Banicevic left the game after taking a hit to the face.

“I was just trying to stand up for my teammate. You never want to see a guy go down like that,” Sopiarz said.

“I think the biggest thing [compared to last year] is we’re back to a Rebels brand of hockey. That’s never changed, and Brent [Sutter’s] always wanted that and has established that. I think we’re just getting back to that, and Kisio’s done a great job of pushing us and getting the best out of every single one of us. It’s a team effort, and we’re having a really great start for sure.”

Growing up in Edmonton, Sopiarz has always prided himself on playing with a bit of an edge.

His best statistical season came while playing with OHA Edmonton U18 Prep in 2023-24, where he served as captain, scoring 29 points in 28 games.

He then went on to play one and a half seasons with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars before he was moved to Red Deer in a trade last December.

He said playing more physically really began to flourish in Prince George as he was more of a role player.

“There’s obviously a time and a place [to play with an edge], and you want to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. I’m willing to fight whoever… Whenever it calls, I’m ready,” Sopiarz said.

“You try to know when it’s a good time because you want to make an impact on the game. You want to use your tools offensively, especially when we want everyone rolling.”

Another trait Rebels fans have come accustomed to seeing on a nightly basis is that he’s also not afraid to trash talk.

“I’m sure you guys can see that from the top,” he laughed. “I think for me, it keeps me in the game emotionally. When I’m at my best, I’m intense, focused, and I’m in the game. It is a bit of a fear factor, more so to keep myself ready to go at all times.”

Sopiarz explained it’s extremely important for teams to know that when they come to Red Deer, it’s going to be a tough game.

“When we play at home, we’ve got to take pride in playing at home and winning at home,” he said. “If someone’s going to get in your face, you’re going to let them know and look them in the eyes. It’s definitely a part of it, but the broader picture is just us playing hard, playing our game, and playing Rebels hockey.”

He said it’s a treat to play alongside Kuzma, who he described as a hard worker.

“He’s just as willing to go at any time, so it’s unique that we have a few guys like that, where everyone’s willing to fight for each other and stand up for each other. It shows the unity of our team and how strong our culture is.”

The Rebels will be back in action later this week when they head to Lethbridge to face the Hurricanes at 7 p.m. They’ll then host the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday at the Centrium at 6 p.m.

Currently, the Rebels are in first place in the WHL with an 11-4-1-1 record.

by Ian Gustafson

Old-school Rebels hockey fuelling strong start to the season

What's Trending