Struch confident bright future ahead for Rebels
By DANNY RODE
No doubt about it… this was a tough year for the Red Deer Rebels.
A lack of scoring, which wasn’t helped by a string of injuries, saw the Rebels miss the WHL Playoffs for the first time since 2014 when they lost in a tiebreaker game.
But Rebels head coach Dave Struch came out of the season-ending player meetings Monday optimistic about the future.
“I think that when you go through, especially that real long stretch when we had trouble winning games, our young guys got lots of ice time and I think that’s really important for them to learn from and take that forward into next year.”
The Flin Flon native, who just finished his first full season behind the Rebels bench, added that veteran players showed the character needed to grow as a team in the future.
“The older guys, as difficult a year as it was, they kept the dressing room together which was really important. When you go through adversity like we did and for those guys to understand how important that was to us, was important.”
Struch indicated his year-end talks with the players went well.
“We talked about leadership, preparation, understanding and trying to get these guys, especially the younger guys, moving forward. When you go through things like we did this year, as difficult as it was to take, the things they can get better at as individuals, as a team, and become leaders in their own mind can only help on the ice.”
Not only did the Rebels run into a string of injuries to leaders such as captain Ollie Josephson, Jhett Larson and Kalan Lind, they made a number of moves at the trade deadline.
That took Struch, and the coaching staff, time to rebuild team chemistry.
“When you go through something like that and you have so many guys injured you never get a full practice until we got the injured back,” said Struch. “Then we have the new guys and it’s a challenge for them to hold it together in the room and give us time to get the chemistry to get team building to come together.
“But we put together something good over the last 20 games when we got things in place, and they built some chemistry and got to win some hockey games.”
Struch spent time Monday with the younger players who to a man they indicated how they watched and learned from the veteran players.
“They saw where their skill level is at, saw their character, saw our leaders like Ollie and Jhett and their daily habits and the way they carry themselves.
“When we talked with the younger guys this morning, they talked about that and spoke about players they watched along the way. They see that and take ownership as a young group, and we’ll get to start next year on time.
“You see guys like Josephson. His habits are NHL and watch his work ethic on the ice. For the younger guys having someone like him to follow is special.”
The younger players aren’t the only ones who are watching and learning.
Josephson, a draft pick of the Seattle Kraken, is set to travel to Coachella Valley as the AHL team finishes their regular season and head into the playoffs. It’s unlikely he’ll play as he has yet to sign, but he will watch and learn. Same with goalie Chase Wutzke as he joins the Iowa Wild.
Meanwhile, Lind, a draft pick of the Nashville Predators, will be with the Milwaukee Admirals and while he has signed could get an opportunity to play.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the second season, but it’s a learning experience for those guys to go to the next level and gain that experience, witness those players,” said Struch. “You talk about being the best version of yourself but there’s a lot of little things you can steal from other players, other organizations as far as leaders go. It’s important.”
Struch took over as Rebels head coach on March 1, 2024, guiding the team into the second round of the playoffs last season before signing a contract extension at the end of last season.
He certainly isn’t happy with how this year played out, but there were a lot of circumstances not under his control but is looking forward to building a team that plays “the Red Deer Rebels style.”
“My desire is to continue to work with good people,” he stressed. “It was disappointing not to go through what we did last year but we hope to get back there again. We have a group of young guys looking to take over and provide the next standard moving forward, get back to the playoffs and win some hockey games.”
The Rebels will get an opportunity to pick high in this year’s WHL Prospects Draft and has nine picks in the first six rounds.
“We won’t get to see those guys right away but we’re looking forward to working with the group of young guys we have developed here and coming in.”
It was officially announced Monday that the Penticton Vees will leave the BCHL and join the WHL next season. Chilliwack will come in in the 2026-27 season.
“Penticton is good for the league,” said Struch. “They have a successful program and have several solid players signed. They add quality to an already elite league.”
Struch finishes his media conference with a nod toward Red Deer’s fans.
“They’re special. You see the fans (on Saturday), that they’re there right to the end… it’s a special group.”
