Pawlenchuk eager to tackle new role

Where has the time gone?
It was three years ago that Red Deer Rebels forward Grayson Pawlenchuk was a raw Western Hockey League rookie, and yet it seems like just yesterday to the Ardrossan product.
Now, as he prepares for his fourth WHL season, the 19-year-old is ready to step into a leadership role on a team that is in somewhat of a rebuilding phase after hosting the Memorial Cup tournament in May with a veteran-based lineup.
“It’s exciting to be 19 now and pretty well one of the older guys,” Pawlenchuk said Friday, following a main training camp practice session at the Centrium. “I’m right up there with the most games played.
“It’s kind of different being one of the guys to look up to as an older player in the league. I’m excited to kind of be in that role now, where I can show the younger guys the way and be a leader. That’s going to be fun.”
Pawlenchuk sniped 22 goals and added 16 assists in 71 regular-season games in 2015-16 and added another seven points (3g,4a) in 17 playoff contests while skating mostly alongside Winnipeg Jets prospect Michael Spacek and Buffalo Sabres draft pick Brandon Hagel.
Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter plans on keeping the trio intact during the upcoming WHL season.
“He’s kind of talked about that with us and I like the idea,” said Pawlenchuk. “We’re all kind of different players. ‘Spach’ is kind of a playmaker and shooter, ‘Hages’ is a good playmaker and I’m more of a battler and shooter, so I think we work well together.
“We have good chemistry and we’re all good friends off the ice too, so it works well.”
Sutter has full trust in the talented trio to produce on a regular, two-way basis.
“That’s a line we’re counting on to be a good line for us,” he said. “They are all smart players and dependable and responsible enough defensively, but we certainly need them — all of them — to be good offensive players for us.”
The Rebels boss has always had high expectations for his veteran players, clearly expecting each of them to improve from year to year.
“That’s the case every year with the older guys and Pawly is no different,” said Sutter. “He’s got to continue to grow as a player. He’s 19 now and has been in the league three years. He has to take more of an assertive role here now plus we need more production from him.”
Pawlenchuk, who said he feels “in better shape and stronger than I did before” despite an off-season of less than three months, is a versatile player, but — like the majority of his major junior peers — hasn’t brought his ‘A’ game on a nightly basis.
“He’s an all-purpose type player, he plays in all situations,” said Sutter of the six-foot, 190-pound forward. “He’s intelligent enough and big and strong enough to do that. He has the ability and the skill set to do it.
“With him, it’s just a matter of putting it all together. The biggest thing with Pawly is just consistency — putting himself out there every night to want to be a difference in a game.”
Saturday’s main camp schedule consists of a scrimmage from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The main camp players will be back on the ice at 9 a.m. Sunday and rookie camp will open at 10 a.m. with the first of two 90-minute scrimmages on the day.
Training camp will conclude with Wednesday’s Black and White intrasquad game at 7:30 p.m.
The Rebels will host a preseason tournament Sept. 2-3 at the Centrium. Red Deer will face the Edmonton Oil Kings Sept. 2 and the Calgary Hitmen the following evening.
Main camp roster: (x-returnee)
Goaltenders — x-Rylan Toth (1996-born); x-Trevor Martin (’96); Riley Lamb (’98); Dawson Weatherill (’99).
Defence — x-Colton Bobyk (’96); x-Josh Mahura (’98); Alexander Alexeyev (’99); Carson Sass (’99); Ethan Sakowich (’99); Zach Wytinck (’99); Kyle Dronyk (’99); x-Austin Strand (’97); Cale Chalifoux (’98); Tyrell McCubbing (’99); Jacob Herauf (2000).
Left wing — x-Evan Polei (’96); x-Grayson Pawlenchuk (’97); x-Austin Shmoorkoff (’97); Akash Bains (’99); Quinn Martin (’99); Carter Bailey (’99).
Center — x-Adam Musil (’97); x-Michael Spacek (’97); x-Jeff de Wit (’98); D-Jay Jerome (’99); Chase Lowry (2000); Benjamin Hiltz (’99).
Right wing — x-Brandon Hagel (’98); x-Taden Rattie (’98); Zac Gladu (’98); x-Reese Johnson (’98); x-Austin Pratt (’99); Brayden Labant (’99).

Rookie camp roster (includes hometowns; all are 2001-born unless otherwise indicated):
Team Grey
Goaltenders — Byron Fancy, Claresholm; Eric Ward, Edmonton.
Defence — Evan Michaels, East St. Paul, Man.; Nicholas Draffin, Lethbridge; Kaden Booth, Rocky Mountain House; Luke Arndt, Weyburn, Sask.; Josh Bear, Whitewood, Sask.; Colin McPherson (2000-born), Calgary.
Forwards — Arshdeep Bains, Surrey, B.C.; Brendon Rogers, Nanaimo, B.C.; Jacob Franczak, (2000), Edmonton; Colby Laird, Leduc; Austin Schellenberg (2000), Grande Prairie; River Fahey, Campbell River, B.C.; Jayden McCarthy, Morris, Man.; Alex Cattani, Winnipeg; Skyler Sangster, Regina; Josh Belcher (2000), Rapid City, Man.; Erik Delaire, Cranbrook, B.C.; Jaevon Buschien, Okotoks.
Team Burgundy
Goaltenders — Roddy Ross (2000), Lloydminster; Easton Hesse (2000), Beaumont.
Defence — Ryan Gottfried, Winnipeg; Jackson Betcher, Swan River, Man.; Zach Gabruch, Saskatoon; Lucas Jones, Calgary; Mark Holowatuk, Calgary; Jeron Kletzel, Moose Jaw.
Forwards — Colson Gengenbach (2000), Edmonton; Brandon Cutler (2000), Spruce Grove; Mason Strutt, Estevan, Sask.; Blake Sydlowski, St. Albert; Bjorn Robinson (2000), Edmonton; Justin Svenson, Ile Des Chenes, Man.; Alex Mozoroff, Saskatoon; Logan Wotton, Foxwarren, Man.; Matt Raymond, Camrose; Casey McDonald, Plenty, Sask.; Jake Mulder (2000), Abbotsford, B.C.; Kail Magnusson, Grande Prairie.