Musil sets fine example as Rebels captain

As Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter noted, there’s a solid reason why Adam Musil is the team captain.
“Adam is a true professional,” said Sutter. “He trains like a pro, he works out like a pro, he eats like a pro, he practises like a pro. He takes every practice seriously and he throws everything he can into every drill.
“His preparation for practices and games is huge. I’ve always said that if there’s one guy in that dressing room that everyone can look up to it’s definitely our captain, and that’s him. These young kids . . . they couldn’t ask for a better mentor — a guy who does it the right way.”
Musil has embraced the role of team leader as well as the responsibilities that come with the appointment.
“It’s a huge honour. There have been several great captains here that I’ve learned from,” said the 19-year-old centre. “It’s just a huge honour to be the captain with this great organization.
“I want to do the best possible job that I can do and be a leader for this team . . . just do my best on and off the ice and be a leader.”
Despite the fact he was likely the Rebels’ best forward in the Memorial Cup tournament in June, Musil has collected just three assists in the six games he’s played since returning from the St. Louis Blues NHL camp. However, the six-foot-three, 203-pound Delta, B.C., native showed signs of breaking out in the club’s previous two contests.
“He’s coming now. I thought this past weekend was the best he’s played since coming back,” said Sutter. “I think that when he came back from St. Louis he was a little down. He’s a driven guy and he’s always had high expectations of himself.
“Offensively, he’s fought it a bit, but he just has to keep going. Like I said, during this past weekend he played the best two games since he’s been back. He played really well in both games.”
Musil, though, feels he hasn’t shown anything close to what he’s capable of so far this season.
“I haven’t been nearly where I want to be,” he stated. “I haven’t been the player that I want to be. But that’s all right, I believe in my abilities and my work ethic and I’m excited for these next two games (Friday at home versus Moose Jaw and Saturday versus the Kootenay Ice at Cranbrook) and I’m sure I’ll pick it up again.”
Musil was selected by the Blues in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL entry draft after scoring 15 goals and collecting 39 points in 66 WHL games.
He competed in his second consecutive prospects tournament at Traverse City, Mich., this fall, scoring twice on 15 shots in four games with the Blues. He then attended the Blues’ main camp and got into one NHL preseason game in which he was held pointless but had three shots on goal and was 40 per cent in the faceoff dot during 11 minutes and 45 seconds of ice time.
“I was more prepared (for the pro experience) this year, I knew what I was getting into,” Musil said. “I kind of knew the guys and the coaching staff, so I felt a bit more comfortable for sure.
“I was a lot more comfortable on the ice as well and that helped in my play.”
Musil said he didn’t go to the St. Louis camp with unreasonable expectations.
“I just wanted to go there and be the best that I can be . . . whatever happens, happens,” he said.
“I just wanted to play to the best of my ability and I thought I did pretty good. Obviously there’s some stuff I have to work on and I’m looking forward to doing that this year.”
Musil was taken by the Rebels in the first round of the 2012 WHL bantam draft after firing 58 goals and garnering 98 points in 60 games with the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins.
As a 15-year-old, he went on to record 16 goals and 44 points in 32 games with the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the B.C. Major Midget League. That same offensive flair didn’t follow him to the WHL, although he sniped a very respectable 11 goals — and added 18 assists — as a Rebels rookie.
Musil improved to 15 goals and 39 points during his NHL draft season and last winter he tallied 19 goals and picked up 43 regular-season points before adding thee goals and seven assists in 17 playoff games.
“He’s starting to get some scoring chances now,” said Sutter. “Offence isn’t going to come naturally for Adam. He has to work, be hard on pucks and win one-on-one battles. He has to play a power forward game because that’s what type of player he is.
“Yet he can certainly contribute offensively and there are certain areas he has to get into to do that.”
The Rebels boss noted that Musil has the wheels to get into the tough districts.
“A big part of Adam’s game is his skating, he’s a really powerful skater,” said Sutter. “No question, he and (Michael Spacek) are our No. 1 and No. 2 centremen and that’s a nice luxury to have.”
And, of course, there’s no downplaying Musil’s leadership skills and the examples he sets for his teammates.
“He cares and he’s going to play his heart out every night,” said Sutter. “He might not have his best game every night but he’s going to play hard, you’ll never have to question that about him.
“Our team is a reflection of Adam.They’re going to work hard and play hard every night. We could not have a better example inside our room. He’s great that way.”
° Rebels vs. Moose Jaw Warriors, Friday, 7 p.m., Centrium
The Warriors are coming off a 6-2 win over visiting Kootenay last Saturday and are third in the East Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 4-1-2-0 record . . . C Brett Howden is Moose Jaw’s top scorer with six goals and 10 points in six games, while C Jayden Halbgewachs (6g,3a) and LW Nikita Popugaev (4-5) have each put up nine points. Next in line are RW Ryan Bowen (3-4-7) and C Noah Gregor (1-5-6) . . . G Brody Wilms has a 3-1-0-0 win-loss record with a 2.59 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. Teammate Zach Sawchenko is 1-0-2-0 with a 3.62 GAA and .894 save percentage . . . The Warriors will be out to avenge a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting Rebels Sept. 30 in Moose Jaw.
Injuries — Moose Jaw: Matt Sozanski (upper body, day-to-day), LW Brecon Wood (upper body, day-to-day). Red Deer: RW Reese Johnson (upper body, indefinite), D Carson Sass (lower body, day-to-day), G Tyson Verhelst (upper body, week-to-week).
Special teams — Moose Jaw: Power play 17.2 per cent, 13th overall; penalty killing 80 per cent, 11th. Red Deer: Power play 12.5 per cent, 18th overall; penalty killing 69.4 per cent, 19th.