Shore continues to make waves in rookie season
By DANNY RODE
Peyton Shore wasn’t surprised, or disappointed, when he was sent down to the Virden Oil Capitals by the Red Deer Rebels early this season.
The Rebels had two veteran goaltenders in Chase Wutzke and Rhett Stoesser, leaving little room for the 16-year-old Winnipeg native.
“It was good to be sent down, nice to get into some junior games and develop and prepare for whenever I would get a chance to come back to Red Deer,” he said.
That chance came in November when Stoesser was traded to the Kelowna Rockets.
Shore returned after playing seven games with the MJHL Oil Capitals where he posted an impressive 2.13 goals-against-average and .920 save percentage with one shutout. He had a 4-2-0 record.
The six-foot-one, 175-pound Shore didn’t think he would be back in Red Deer so soon.
“I didn’t know anything. I went to Virden prepared to play the season there and get ready for my Grade 12 year hoping to make it here. When it happened, I felt fortunate to come back.”
In the time he was in Virden he did what was needed to work on his game.
“I spent time there to get more comfortable on my feet. As well I obviously wanted to be faster and quicker, to understand my angles more and work on my IQ of the game.”
He obviously did the right things. His first game back with the Rebels was Nov. 29 against the offensively gifted Prince George Cougars. All he did was make 38 saves, was named the game’s first star and lead the home-standing Rebels to a 3-2 victory.
Overall, he’s played in eight games with a 3.07 GAA and .897 save percentage and a 3-3-0 record. He also recorded his first WHL shutout, Jan. 31 at Regina, making 18 saves.
“That was a fun game,” he said, adding “it’s been good to get some games in and to play well.”
Having spent the preseason with the Rebels, Shore knew what was expected of him to play at this level.
“No matter what level you go to it’s a step up and obviously I needed to make some adjustments and it’s been good.”
Rebels head coach Dave Struch watched Shore’s development.
“When we sent him down it was just a matter of inexperience,” said Struch. ‘We stayed in contact with him, with our goalie coach, Ian Gordon, whenever there was an opportunity for us to work with him.”
Struch has liked what he sees in Shore.
“(I’ve liked him) right from the beginning of the year. He works hard and does some really good things.
“We sent him down to develop and when he went to Virden he did a good job there, then with the circumstances we went through here there was a spot for him to come back.
“I think it was really important for him to go down, as a young guy, and get the opportunity to work on some things, play some games where he may not have played as many games here.
“So now he’s in a position where he’s a really good backup and when he’s played our guys work hard for him as they know how hard he works for the players.”
Despite his age, Shore provides energy, even when not playing.
“He’s an energy-giver when he’s not in the net, and when he’s in there he’s twice the energy-giver and gives us a chance to win,” said Struch.
Shore, much like all the younger players on the Rebels roster, is still learning.
“’You look at the young guys, and it’s just not Peyton, but all the guys at such a young age they need to gain that experience,” continued Struch.
“For Peyton coming back here he was facing WHL shots and WHL action in the paint and he needed to have honed his skills in that area … he’s done a really good job on that side of things so when he’s gotten the opportunity here, he was ready.”
Shore felt comfortable returning and working alongside Wutzke.
“We were goalie partners in camp, and we have a goalie connection there and it’s gotten stronger every day,” he said. “We do some goalie work together every day before practice. I definitely enjoy watching Chase do what he does in practice every day. I try to pick up some things he does and incorporate them into my game.”
Struch knows there’s a lot of work for younger players if they want to be a WHL regular.
“He’s taken ownership of that and he’s helped himself out. It’s a great lesson for young guys when they see it.
“It’s hard to be a young 16-year-old goalie in this league, as it is for a 16-year-old defenceman. There’s a lot of work that goes into the game in your development and taking ownership. The extra work is what he’s done to put himself in the position he’s in.”
Peyton is part of a team that’s continuing to grow while working through a long list of injuries and roster reshaping through numerous trades.
“We still have some games left and it’s still possible to make (playoffs),” said Shore. “We’re not going to stop until that final buzzer.
“We’ll see what happens this year and it will be interesting what happens next year,” he said.
ICE CHIPS – The Rebels continue their extended home stand Friday when they host the Calgary Hitmen at 7 p.m. at the Centrium … This Saturday, March 1 when the Kelowna Rockets visit will be extra special as it’s the Brandon Hagel Bobblehead Night, presented by Carpet One Red Deer … The Rebels have just one injury as of Wednesday (Jaxon Fuder – upper, week-to-week) … 16-year-old Beckett Hamilton has a chance to lead the team in goals in his rookie season. He’s currently tied with Matthew Gard with 13. Brandon Sutter (22 goals, 2005-06) was the last 16-year-old player to lead the Rebels in goals in a season.
