Graduation Season: Rebels 20-year-olds leave with great memories
By DANNY RODE – There were a few tears, then again there always will be when players are leaving a team for the last time.
Saturday was just one of those days for the three 20-year-old members of the Red Deer Rebels.
Captain Talon Brigley, along with Tyson Yaremko and Aleksey Chichkin, cleared out their lockers for the last time and said goodbye to a group of friends they will always be close to.
For Brigley it was extra tough as the Rebels where the only team he knew during his five-year Western Hockey League career.
“This is definitely harder than most years for sure,” he said. “But the meetings have been good, hanging out with the guys, just being around the rink, talking with the coaches and hanging out with Mikey (dressing room attendant Mikel McIver). All the fun stuff.”
Brigley can now take time to look back over his career.
“It’s meant so much to me, coming in as a 16-year-old to now. I’ve learned so much. I’m a different person than I was back then. Even this year with Habby (head coach Marc Habscheid) and the wisdom he has and shared with us. I’ve learned so much from him. He’s given me confidence to be the person I want to be, the leader I want to be. I will take that with me forever. I owe this organization everything.”
And the organization owes Talon a lot as well. He gave everything he had from day one, hardly missing a game, setting a pair of records for longevity by playing 329 regular season games and 365 regular season and playoff games.
“That’s special,” he agreed. “I never thought that would happen, playing that many games for this organization. It’s something I will look back on in the future, it’s a special milestone. The past five years went by so fast it really never hit me until now. But it’s special to be here the past five years and this year I’m so honoured to be captain and lead these guys. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
As he leaves Talon does have some final words for a talented group of younger players remaining.
“My advice to them is to work as hard as they can. We have simple rules here. To be good teammates, to work hard as you can and to treat others how you want to be treated. It’s the culture we have.
“It’s not hard to find those guys when they come in. They learned quick that this is the way it is and every guy is an unreal human and I think they will have success in the future.”
Talon’s future, starting next year, will be at Sacred Heart University, an independent Catholic Division I school in Fairbank, Ct.
“It’s something I’m looking forward to for sure,” he said. “Getting out of Red Deer will be new for me. I’m excited and the change of scenery will be fun. I’ll be playing in a new league against older guys and I’m excited to see what the competition is like. I will miss this place and these guys but I’m excited for it.”
But Talon will always have his memories.
“There are too many to even say,” he said. “One of the biggest was coming to a game when I was a kid. I still remember where we sat. My dad had season tickets he got from work, and we’d come to as many games as we could. It was surreal for me to put the jersey on. I never took it for granted.
“For it to be over is sad, but I’ve been fortunate to be here for five years and meet the people I have and the friendships will be forever. What I’ve learned from the staff, from Brent (Sutter) and my teammates will be with me for the rest of my life.”
Both Yaremko and Chichkin came to the Rebels in trades this season and have nothing but good things to say about the club.
“It’s been awesome, just getting to know the players,” said Yaremko, who came over from the Portland Winterhawks at the trade deadline. Prior to that he had played one game with the Swift Current Broncos.
“I think going on the bus trips and hanging our with the guys were the best,” he said. “You take it for granted that you don’t want to do it, but it’s the best part of junior hockey. Just that experience on the bus for many hours. I was on three different teams and met so many guys coming in and out and it was unbelievable.”
There was a difference between Portland and Red Deer.
“Portland is a bigger city, a longer drive with a lot of traffic,” he said. “The fans were great, although a little less on the hockey side. Here it’s nice. More hockey culture in a Canadian city. Here we’re closer to the rink and it’s a little colder but it’s been great.”
Yaremko will attend the University of Alaska – Fairbanks next season. He feels this year prepared him for that next step in his career.
“I had a tough year last year because of injuries and had a couple of injuries toward the end of this year but I’m ready to go play Div I. Have a great summer to rehab my injuries and be ready for next year.
He has been in contact with the university throughout the year.
“They kept in touch, keeping up to date. I’m excited.”
Chichkin came to the Rebels from Prince George early in the season, giving the Rebels valuable experience on the blueline.
“It’s been unreal here. Great spot anyone would love coming here.”
Chichkin played three years in the league, collecting a few different hats along the way. He played a season with the Calgary Hitmen, then split last year between the Regina Pats and Prince George Cougars and then this season.
He enjoyed every minute in the league.
“The league has given me so much,” he said. “More than I could ever hoped. Look where I was when I was 16 to where I am today. I’m so happy to be part of those teams and the chances the coaches took on me.
“It’s unbelievable to sit here today and look back. I learned something from every place and I’m thankful to everyone.
“Today is a tough day. The coaches poured so much into me … took, a chance on me.”
Aleksey came to Red Deer looking to be someone who was tough to play against.
“That was my goal,“ he said. “When I first saw you guys (media) the first day I was traded here I said I wanted to be the toughest guy to play against and I thought I did that throughout the season. I think I had a great year.”
Aleksey was to join Mercyhurst University next season, but he was told on the first day of the playoffs that they dropped their men’s hockey program.
“I haven’t really thought about it, haven’t had much time,” he said. “The coaches have been talking to some schools for me so I will figure it out in the next couple of days and get into it.”
He’s also hoping to get a pro tryout.
“Hope so. I had a good season so I’ll see what comes of it.
One thing he can add to his resume is leadership.
“We had a young group and I’m real proud of the way this group responded. There’s a lot of younger guys who will have a good future and I’m proud of that.”
