Bousquet, Rebels excited for new opportunity together
By DANNY RODE
Talking with the Spokane Chiefs at his exit meeting following camp this year, Jack Bousquet knew there was a chance he would be traded at some point.
When it turned out to be to the Red Deer Rebels, the 16-year-old defenceman was more than excited.
“They (Spokane) called my dad, and he told me when I got home from practice (with the Canmore Eagles of the AJHL) that I was traded to Red Deer and I was pumped. And it’s close to home.”
Although it says on Eliteprospects.com that he was born in Dallas, he was actually born in Okotoks and moved to Texas with his parents when he was four.
He came up through the Dallas minor hockey system and was selected in the 10th round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft by the Chiefs. That was when his dad urged him to come back to Calgary.
“My dad wanted me to come back to Calgary and get the Canadian culture,” he explained.
Bousquet played for the Edge School in 2022-23 while billeting with a friend of his dad’s. His dad moved to moved to Calgary the following season and Jack played for the Calgary IHA (International Hockey Academy).
“It was good they helped me a lot,” he said, although he had nothing but good to say about the Dallas system.
“I really liked it. It was a good program and I learned a lot.”
He worked with the Dallas Stars skating coach which shows in his overall skating.
“He was an Olympian, and I worked with him all the way up.”
The Rebels saw a lot of what they liked in Bousquet and were surprised when he was available.
“We were surprised he was in a position to get him, we really were,” said Rebels head coach Dave Struch. “He can skate really well. He can shoot the puck and move the puck. All the things we want in our defencemen.
“I think it’s important when we do have the opportunity like this, when players are available, we take advantage of it. This is a great environment for him to come into where things are done professionally.
“It’s a situation where the dressing room takes ownership, they’re accountable for everything that happens here,” Struch continued. “The young guys come in and they follow the leadership group who does things the right way and they become leaders themselves.”
“Coming in it was tough right away in practice,” Bousquet said. “You could tell the difference. It was a whole new level of intensity.”
Bousquet played six games with Okotoks before the trade at the end of last month. He joined the Rebels and inserted into the lineup essentially right away as Hunter Mayo sat out with a minor injury.
“It was cool. Unfortunately, there was an injury but getting into a few games right away felt good.”
The six-foot-two, 185-pound Bousquet didn’t look out of place in his first couple of games.
“He’s done a really good job,” Struch was quick to point out.
Bousquet sees himself as a two-way player.
“I try to be physical in the corners. I can skate and like to jump up into the play now and then.”
While he’s already shown he can play in this league, Struch knows Bousquet still has things to learn.
“I think the important part for all of us is his development becomes the next most important thing for him. Obviously every game he gets into the experience is really important,” Struch said.
“But the stuff we do off the ice, the video, the learning of hockey IQ, his development in the gym, getting stronger, everything we do in practice and how we practice, it’s important.
“It’s also important for him to understand we’ve been at it for a long time going back to last year. He sees the team identity, the way our leaders are and how they work and battle so he’s learning every day, getting better every day. So, the next step for him is that every opportunity he gets to play he takes advantage of it.”
Bousquet understands he’s still young, as he won’t turn 17 until Dec. 18, and needs to continue to work.
“Work in the gym, get stronger and develop more quickness and work on my shot … just get better every day,” he said.
“Not sure when I get to play again but I need to stay ready.”
The Rebels return to the ice Saturday at 2 p.m. in Edmonton against the Oil Kings as they try to shake off a two-game losing streak.
“We weren’t very good against Vancouver (in a 5-2 loss Tuesday) and deserved to lose,” said Struch. “Against Medicine Hat (a 3-0 loss Wednesday) it could have gone either way. It was a good hockey game for both teams. We can look back at so many positives and build off them to get back on the winning track.”
The Rebels visit the Calgary Hitmen Wednesday and return home Saturday, October 19 against the Saskatoon Blades. The host Edmonton at the Peavey Mart Centrium the following day (Sunday 20th) for a 4 p.m. matinee for Kids Day and the Red Deer Advocate Postgame Skate.