Kondro ready to prove he’s worthy of new opportunity
By DANNY RODE – It came as a bit of a shock when Matthew Kondro found his name listed as starting goaltender for the Red Deer Rebels.
Earlier this season the 17-year-old native of St. Albert was assigned to the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL, leaving Chase Wutzke and Peyton Shore with the WHL squad.
All that changed Saturday when the Rebels traded Wutzke to the Moose Jaw Warriors, leaving Kondro and Shore as the Rebels tandem.
Kondro has put together an impressive four-game run with the Rebels, posting a 2.46 goals-against-average, a .922 save-percentage, and a 2-1-1 record.
“It came as a shock, but I’m excited about the new opportunity,” said Kondro, who had a solid stint with the Bobcats with a 2.74 GAA, a .904 save-percentage and 6-2-0 record.
“When I was called back up, I assumed I’d get a chance to start that Friday. It went well and I stuck around. Then came the trade and here I am.”
Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid is impressed with what he’s seen so far from Kondro.
“So far, so good. He has a good mentality for a goaltender. He’s laid back, nothing gets him too high or too low. There’s always a smile on his face and he stops pucks, that’s what we need.”
Kondro had a solid training camp with the Rebels this season, which included a 25-save preseason shutout versus Lethbridge, and despite being sent down didn’t lose his confidence.
“Knowing I could play at this level was huge for me going back to that level (Jr. A),” he said.
“I felt super confident and felt I played awesome while there.”
Matt played one period with the Rebels last season and while it didn’t go well it was still a valuable learning experience.
“I’m a different goalie than I was last year,” he said. “Last year I felt I wasn’t fully ready for this level. This year I feel I’ve arrived and feel awesome, feel I’m a very capable WHL goalie.”
Kondro believes a big part of that development has been working with Rebels goalie coach Ian Gordon.
“He’s been awesome in my development.”
That development has been both physically and mentally.
“When I’m playing well, I’m seeing the puck, moving well, controlling my rebounds, competing and communicating. Just being confident, having fun.”
Kondro was selected by the Rebels in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft in the eighth round. It was a bit of a surprise as he was, to say the least, on the short side at the time.
“I always felt I had the talent but had to be patient as when I was drafted. I was maybe five-foot-five and had to wait for my body (to catch up). My skills and mental game were there but I had to grow into my frame, which took time, but I’m there now,” said the now six-foot-one, 175-pound Kondro.
“Last year was huge for me. I had a really good season. It was a coming out party for me.”
Kondro played last season with the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL, posting a 2.90 GAA and .904 save percentage in 26 games, He was named to the AJHL’s South Division All-Rookie Team.
“It’s a big step from the AJHL to the Western League but that was good middle ground. It was way better than U18 and while it wasn’t the WHL I found it huge for me.”
While Kondro has had a good start to his WHL career, he’s not about to get ahead of himself.
“You take it one game at a time, one step at a time and focus on what you have to do.”
He’s excited to work alongside Shore in handling the team’s goaltending duties.
“He’s a great teammate, a great goalie and I’m excited to share the crease with him,” said Kondro, whose main goal is to “get the Rebels in the playoffs.”
Individually he finds himself on the radar for the NHL Draft.
“I’m not overly worried about that, I’m just playing my game, and I feel if I play well people will find you.”
Shore, like Kondro, will have a bit more responsibility on him since the Wutzke trade.
“It’s something I’ve never experienced before but it’s a new opportunity and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s nice knowing the club believes in you. Believe in myself and Kondro.
“I met Matt at a camp in the summer and he’s a great guy and I’m excited to work with him,” added Shore, who indicated he learned a lot from Wutzke.
“He was a real leader and work hard, I learned a ton from him.”
Habscheid believed the team had three good goaltenders and Wutzke gave the Rebels the best opportunity on the trade market. There was also a good chance he wouldn’t be back next season as a 20-year-old.
“It’s tough because really only one of them can play at a time thus the move. It’s part of the business.
“In this game we have to reevaluate every situation. Matt did that for us when he went to Jr. A and put up good numbers. He makes the saves and is good mentality.”
Shore has had a bit of a slow start this season with a 3.75 GAA and a .857 save percentage, but Habscheid has confidence in the second-year backstop.
“He’s an incredible person. He will be OK. By his own admission he’s not been at the top of his game…. it happens, but he’ll overcome that, it takes time.”
