Sass a rapid riser on Rebels blueline

The Red Deer Rebels look to be set on defence for the foreseeable future with three rookies already performing at an impressive level.
Russian import Alex Alexeyev along with fellow freshmen Ethan Sakowich and Carson Sass have looked right at home on the Red Deer blueline this season, with Sass having made the biggest ascent in recent weeks.
“I think I’ve been playing well,” said Sass, following an off-ice workout Thursday at the Centrium.
“I’ve been going out there and working hard. I mean, that’s the main thing — just work hard and hopefully you’ll get the ice time. I just do my thing out there . . . I have fun.”
Sass has cranked up his game to the point that he not only kills penalties, but gets his share of duty on the Rebels power play. The 17-year-old has scored twice and added four assists in 20 games this fall, to go with two minutes in penalties and a plus-2 plus/minus rating.
His offensive skills were honed last season as a member of the Yorkton Maulers of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League. He saw regular man-advantage duty with the team and finished with eight goals and 24 points in 43 games.
“The whole organization helped me in that regard. They helped me improve the offensive side of my game which helped me make an easier progression to this level,” said the six-foot, 182-pound defenceman, who was selected in the third round — 47th overall, one pick back of Sakowich — of the 2014 WHL bantam draft
Sass also appeared in one SJHL game with his hometown Melville Millionaires last winter, but it was the three games — two regular-season outings and one in the playoffs — in which he suited up with the Rebels late in the season that really made his jump to the WHL less stressful.
“That was huge, that experience did wonders for me,” he said. “I saw what it takes to play at this level and how people prepare in practice.
“It was huge for me, coming into my official rookie season. Getting a chance to play here last season really helped me with my confidence.”
Sass has played alongside a series of blueline partners this season, including Sakowich, Austin Strand and, more recently, Jared Freadrich.
“They’re all good players so that makes it easier,” said Sass.
Regardless of his defensive partner, Sass has developed at a rapid rate over the last month or so.
“He sure has,” said Rebels associate coach Jeff Truitt. “He’s a very cerebral type of player. He thinks the game, he knows the game.”
In addition . . .
“He’s a good defender and we use him in power play and penalty kill situations, and up against the other team’s top couple of lines.
“Maybe a month and half ago he wasn’t at this level, but he’s there now. His confidence is growing and he’s become a real important piece for us.”
° Rebels Scouting Report
Rebels vs. Kootenay Ice; Tonight, 7 p.m., Centrium
The Ice are coming off Wednesday’s 6-5 shootout win over the Rebels, a victory that improved their record to 5-13-5-1. Kootenay is 3-5-2-0 in the last 10 games and sits 11th in the Eastern Conference and sixth in the Central Division . . . Overage RW Zak Zborosky is the club’s premier points producer with 26, including 19 goals — second in the league to only Michael Rasmussen of the Tri-City Americans, who has notched 20. C Matt Alfaro, also 20, has 20 points (8g,12a) and D Cale Fleury, a brother of former Rebels rearguard Haydn, is the only other Kootenay player in double figures for points (5-8-13) . . . Payton Lee is 16th among WHL goaltenders with a 3.46 goals-against average. His save percentage is an impressive .915.
Injuries: Kootenay — C Shane Allan (lower body, indefinite), RW Max Patterson (upper body, one week), RW Kaeden Taphorn (upper body, one week). Red Deer — RW Reese Johnson (upper body, indefinite), LW Grayson Pawlenchuk (lower body, week-to-week), G Tyson Verhelst (upper body, indefinite).
Special teams — Kootenay: Power play 12.6 per cent, 21st overall; penalty kill 76.7 per cent, 16th. Red Deer: Power play 19.1 per cent, 13th overall; penalty kill 76.5 per cent, 18th.