Rebels rookie Roberts in a good spot as pre-season continues
One year after signing with the Red Deer Rebels before heading home to Colorado Springs, CO, Jeramiah Roberts is settling in as one of the WHL team’s top prospects.
“All the boys are very welcoming. It’s good to see all their faces again,” the 16-year-old forward said Thursday. “It’s different when you’re playing on the team in actual games. I’m just here to do what I do.”
What Roberts did last winter in the Colorado Rampage organization is put up two points per game with the 15UAAA team and record a goal and an assist in three outings with the 16UAAA squad.
He was also selected to compete in the USA 15UAAA Showcase tournament in which he scored once in four games with Team Kelly.
“It was pretty cool playing with all the top guys in America,” said the five-foot-11, 165-pound winger, who participated in the 14UAAA Showcase the year before.
Selected by the Rebels in the first round — 14th overall — of the 2022 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, Roberts signed a standard player agreement following training camp last fall.
Roberts had to decide whether his path to pro hockey would be better travelled via the major junior route or by the US college hockey avenue. He weighed the pros and cons and saw the Rebels as his best option.
Through training camp and two pre-season games, he knows he made the right choice.
“It’s phenomenal here, I couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Roberts. “They give me everything I need and the schooling is perfect. It really came down to was this what I wanted to do? I talked to the family back home and we decided this is where I should be.”
Rebels first year head coach Derrick Walser likes what he sees in regard to Roberts’ skill set, but like the vast majority of major junior rookies is a work in progress.
“He has a high skill level but he has to learn to compete all the time, not just when you have the puck,” said Walser. “When you don’t have the puck you have to work to get it.
“But he’s a young kid. He’s away from home and probably realizes this is going to be a longer year than he’s had because he should be here from day one.”
Roberts has dressed for both of Red Deer’s pre-season games this month, scoring once in a 5-4 overtime win over the Calgary Hitmen.
Walser has stressed the need for speed and playing at a high pace, which is right up Roberts’ alley.
“I’m a fast style of player. I like to get up and down the ice and take shots on net,” he said. “I’ll pass the puck if someone is open, but I’m more of a fast paced, get the puck in the back of the net . . . that style of player.”
Roberts not only scored in the Rebels’ pre-season opener in Calgary, he engaged 17-year-old Hitmen forward Keets Fawcett in a scrap, a clear indication that he won’t be intimidated.
“I don’t take anything from anybody, so if they want to go we’ll go,” he said.
Walser sees plenty of promise with Roberts, but again, it’s a simple case of maturing as a player.
“I think this is the perfect place for him with the culture that Brent (Sutter) has brought into this organization with the work ethic and stuff,” said the coach.
“It’s very easy to learn because everyone else is working hard.”
Just notes: The Rebels reassigned five players to U18 AAA teams earlier this week — forwards Beckett Hamilton (Warman Wildcats), Steven Steranka (Regina Pat Canadians) and Tucker Tullikopf (Red Deer Optimist Chiefs), goaltender Taylor Tabashniuk (Pat Canadians) and defenceman Jake Missura (Saskatoon Blazers) . . . The Rebels host the Hitmen in a pre-season action Friday at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium, then close out their exhibition season versus the Hurricanes Saturday in Lethbridge at 6 p.m. . . . The Red Deer Advocate Home Opener is Friday, Sept. 22 when the Edmonton Oil Kings will visit the Centrium . . . Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are still available. Fans can also purchase half-season, 9-game packs, 3-game packs, and single-game tickets. Visit reddeerrebels.com or call Shaun Richer at 403-341-6000 for details.
