Powerful practice session helped Rebels get back on track: Weir
Never underestimate the power of a practice.
The Red Deer Rebels snapped a seven-game WHL losing streak Tuesday with a 6-1 romp over the visiting Calgary Hitmen, a win — in the opinion of defenceman Jace Weir — that was at least partially due to a rigid on ice workout session the day before.
“Honestly, I think to get back to the winning ways that little bit of practice time we had was really good for us, just to kind of reset,” Weir said Thursday. “We were a little bit off-track during the losses, but now I think we can get this thing turned around again.”
The victory over the Hitmen was a must have, considering the Rebels’ previous plight that included watching a 4-1 lead dissolve in an eventual 5-4 overtime loss Saturday in Medicine Hat.
Throughout the rough ride that came on the heels of a nine-game win streak, Weir said the players never lost confidence in themselves.
“That one in Medicine Hat definitely stung,” he conceded, “but on that losing streak we always knew we were a good team.
“The biggest thing was sticking to the little details and getting back to our game, how we want to play.”
Weir, who broke into the WHL and made an immediate impact with the Rebels at a 16-year-old during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, is now in his fourth season with the club and holds down a top-four position on the blueline.
The 19-year-old native of Coldstream, BC, has embraced his veteran leadership role.
“I just think learning from my past experiences from other leaders and taking that into my game has been huge,” he said. “We have a lot of good leaders in this locker room. It’s not just one guy, it’s many.
“It’s been really good that way.”
Weir was ranked by Central Scouting for the 2022 NHL Draft and even attended the draft combine, but was passed over. He also went unselected in 2023.
He did, however, get a taste for the pro game when he attended the Vegas Golden Knights prospects camp as a free agent in 2022, and hopes to get another invitation to an NHL camp before his junior career concludes at the end of the 2023-24 season.
He has not, however, dwelled on the prospect to the point where it has affected his game.
“Obviously everyone’s dream is to get a pro contract and make the NHL,” he said. “I’m just taking it day-by-day, a bit at a time. I’m not looking too much ahead into the future . . . just trying to live in the present, work on my game every day and see where it goes.
“Everyone has to work on something. For me, it’s just working on my two way game, defensive zone, offensive zone, making sure I can be good at both ends of the ice . . . controlling the play.
“Just working on the little details of my game can go a long way.”
For now, he’s focused on helping the Rebels succeed as a member of a stellar blueline brigade.
“We have one of the best D corps in the league in my opinion and to be able to be a part of that is really special,” said the six-foot-two, 196-pound rearguard who has scored twice and added 11 assists in 53 games this season.
“We push each other every day to bring out the best of our abilities. We complement each other really well and I think that’s why we’ve been successful.”
Notable: The Rebels return to action Friday when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Peavey Mart Centrium (7 p.m.) before they visit the Oil Kings Saturday . . . Rebels captain Kai Uchacz sniped his 35th goal of the season Tuesday and is within one goal of becoming the fifth player in franchise history to score 100 . . . The Rebels host the Lethbridge Hurricanes Monday at 2 p.m. The Family Day matinee will double as Sockey Day in Red Deer in support of the United Way Central Alberta. Fans attending the game will receive a pair of socks, provided by generous community partners, or can bring their own to toss on the ice during the game. These socks will be gathered by volunteers and distributed through various agencies to people in need throughout central Alberta.
