Strong two-way game key to success for Jean Jr.
Really, it was just a matter of time.
Red Deer Rebels forward Dwayne Jean Jr., finally potted his first goal of the season in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Calgary Hitmen. While he’s not known as a Western Hockey League sniper, the veteran winger agreed Thursday that the goal was overdue.
“The chances have been there but I’m having a tough time capitalizing on them,” he said while stressing that he will continue to use his speed and strong forecheck to create scoring opportunities .
“To have that one go in was just a sign of relief. Now I want to keep on the same train, playing well and playing the right way. Everything that’s worked out so far I’m just going to continue to keep doing it every single day.
“I’m not going to switch anything just because I scored a goal. I just want to stay on this path of playing good hockey.”
Jean Jr. was acquired from the Tri-City Americans in October of last year. He got off to a great start with the Americans, scoring twice and adding two assists in five games before being dealt, then notched four goals and collected 14 points in 56 regular season games with the Rebels, and added a goal in 12 playoff outings.
“We have really good guys on the offensive side and I’m trying to sneak my way into there,” he said, adding that he won’t abandon his two-way game to concentrate on points.
“I’m a great two way player, I play the defensive zone pretty well,” said the five-foot-11, 187-pound 19-year-old who hails from Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation near Fort McMurray and played his minor hockey in Edmonton.
“But I’m still learning every single day in this league, it’s not an easy league. I just want to continue to grow every single day and become a better player and person.”
Rebels head coach Derrick Walser was pleased to see the puck go in for Jean Jr. Tuesday.
“You always want to see guys get rewarded,” said Walser. “The thing with Dwayne is consistency. Everyone matures differently and understands the game differently, they grow at different times.
“The one thing with Dwayne is consistency. He can skate, he can fly around the ice. With him, it’s just the fine little details.”
Dwayne Jean Jr.'s first goal of the season couldn't have come at a better time for the @Rebelshockey! pic.twitter.com/jvY2A4nKmG
— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 29, 2023
The Rebels are currently riding a five-game winning streak which started just after the team arrived back from an unsuccessful BC Division trip.
“The biggest thing is we’ve come together as one,” said Jean Jr. “Before we were losing games where we were taking five minutes off and just kind of losing our minds not playing Red Deer Rebels hockey.
“So I think since the trip we’ve come together as one team and we just continue to show up for practice every single day and work each other. I think that’s the biggest piece of our five wins so far — we just want to outwork the person beside us and be more like the team last year.
“We don’t like to go off last year, but we want to continue to show that we still have that in us. We still have a lot of season ahead of us and we want to keep this winning streak alive.”
The Moose Jaw Warriors visit the Peavey Mart Centrium Friday followed by the Everett Silvertips on Saturday. Both teams are well above the .500 mark, with 17-10-1-0 Everett tied for second place in the Western Conference and Moose Jaw sitting third in the Eastern Conference at 15-10-0-1.
“We have two really good teams coming in here,” said Jean Jr. “We’re not going to look at the standings. We’re the Red Deer Rebels and we’re going to show up and play Red Deer Rebels hockey.
“We’re going to finish every check and play hard right through to the final whistle. These teams have a lot of skilled guys who we have to outwork. We have to finish all of our checks on them.”
Notable: The Warriors’ lineup includes three players — forwards Jagger Firkus and Brayden Yager and defenceman Denton Mateychuk — who are strong candidates to suit up for Team Canada in the upcoming world junior championship. Firkus is the current WHL scoring leader with 23 goals and 46 points, while Yager sits 13th with 15 goals and 33 points. Mateychuk is fourth among WHL defenceman with six goals and 28 points in only 19 games . . . Everett’s leading scorers are winger Dominik Rymon (15-18-33) and centre Austin Roest (19-12-31) . . . Saturday’s game is the annual Toque and Teddy Bear Toss in support of the Red Deer Christmas Bureau. When the Rebels score their first goal, fans are invited to toss their winter items onto the ice. There will be items available for purchase at the game for $5. The Christmas Bureau is looking for new toques, mittens, gloves, scarves, and socks.
