Mayo leading by example, on and off the ice
By DANNY RODE
Hunter Mayo is working his way up into the upper echelon of the Red Deer Rebels record book for defencemen.
Two career milestones – 100 points and 200 games played – are within reach.
He could achieve both this weekend at the Peavey Mart Centrium as the Rebels host the Saskatoon Blades Saturday at 7 p.m. and the Edmonton Oil Kings Sunday at 4 p.m.
The Martensville, SK, native has played 198 games since joining the Rebels in the 2020-21 season and has accumulated 99 points. He momentarily hit the 100-point mark Wednesday during a 5-4 overtime win over the Calgary Hitmen, before a scoring change later on.
Still, it was a big game for the six-foot-one, 200-pound rearguard, scoring twice, including the overtime winner.
He has five goals in seven games this season, which gives him 36 overall. The two-goal outburst Wednesday broke a tie with Jim Vandermeer. Next on the list of blue line snipers are Ross Lupaschuk and Jeff Woywitka with 41.
Mayo has a legitimate shot at moving into second place overall, held by Matt Dumba with 51. Dion Phaneuf sits on top with 64, a mark that’s not out of reach if Mayo continues on at his torrid pace.
But he stresses he tries not to think of it.
“It’s fun to know you’re up there stats-wise, but I try to just play my game every night and do what I can do.
“It’s been nice to get off to a good start and when the team’s going well, I’m going. When I’m playing my best, the team’s playing their best.”
Mayo has been at the top of his game since returning from Winnipeg Jets camp. He played in a number of exhibition games, including in the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton which also included the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers.
“I got a chance to play in all three games and it was cool to play against all the best, that was awesome.”
Mayo was invited to the LA Kings camp in 2023 which made it easier to step right into Jets camp.
“Having that experience (made it easier) honestly,” he said. “Knowing I can go there and play my game and not really think about who is watching me or what’s going to happen after, just go out there and play my game and trust what I can do on the ice.
“It was my second camp, and it was awesome in that I played in every game when I was here. I could take all that experience back here and give it to all the young guys … everybody here. Bring what I do best back to the team.”
What he does best makes head coach Dave Struch’s job a bit easier.
“He’s a 200-foot defenceman. One of the big things I noticed, even from the short time I was here last year, is how physical he’s been right now. That comes with experience and playing in the league.”
Mayo enjoys playing all aspects of the game.
“I like to have every aspect of my game. I like to play physically, have a big shot from the point, just be solid defensively. I like to do it all.”
That includes being a leader.
“It’s huge to have good leadership, not just the guys with the letters but everybody. Even from the young guys. We’ll have a bad shift, and they’ll step up and get us back to be where we need to be.
“We need good leadership so when we get into a rut like our three-game losing streak we have it to get us out.”
“He’s a leader and we’re asking a lot from him, and he’s actually executing that,” Struch added.
“As a 20-year-old leader it’s not easy to do at times but he’s done a great job with all the stuff away from the puck. When he gets the puck, he’s being rewarded, and we’ve got to see more of it.”
Mayo is enjoying every game and isn’t looking to far down the road. But he knows the Jets are still interested.
“They haven’t mentioned anything about signing me but said they’d be watching. I thought I performed really well at their camp, and they agreed and said I did really play well. I played my game and to my identity and they said they’d be watching me this season and see how it goes.”
—
Saturday sees the Rebels take on the very Saskatoon Blades team that eliminated them from playoffs each of the last two years. But Struch insists the club isn’t looking in the rearview.
“It’s another game. We’ve taken on and adopted a playoff mindset from the start and I think overall we’ve played that way. It’s still the beginning of the year and we have a long way to go but our goal is to compete the same way every night no matter who the opponent is and put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs.
“We do have that playoff mindset and we also know we’ll make some mistakes and we need to learn from them.
“We know how good they are. They’re well coached and have had some good success over the past years so we expect a good game.”
