“Versatility” the catchword when describing forward Jace Isley and his style of play
Jace Isley is the Red Deer Rebels’ Swiss army knife.
“I think he’s going to be a guy throughout the year we can use on the third line or the top two lines, at centre, wing, wherever,” Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk said Tuesday. “He’s versatile. I know he’s even been used on defence in the past.
“He’s a smart hockey player.”
The 19-year-old Grande Prairie native cracked the Rebels roster in the 2019-20 Western Hockey League season and went on to score five goals and collect 15 points in 49 games.
Isley notched a pair of goals and added four helpers during the abbreviated 2020-21 season and has shown a scoring touch through three preseason games this fall, potting two goals and adding two assist in three games.
“I came into this season way more confident than last year,” said Isley, whose preseason linemates have included Arshdeep Bains, Talon Brigley and Zac Smith. “I just feel way better around the rink than I did last year.”
Isley also attributed his impressive exhibition play to his off-season training regimen.
“I started working out as soon as I got home,” he said. “Maybe I took a couple of weeks off with skating but got right back into it full time.”
Isley is confident that the current version of the Rebels will enjoy substantially more success than the crew that lived inside the Centrium for just over three months last winter.
“It was a strange year for sure,” said the six-foot-two, 191-pound forward, in reference to the 23-game season, cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our record wasn’t very good but it was good to get the experience of living inside the rink.
“The same boys are here this year and we’re just ready to get back at it again.”
The Rebels take a 2-1 record into their final two preseason games — Friday at Lethbridge and Saturday at home against the Hurricanes.
“The preseason wins have been nice but it’s only the beginning,” said Isley. “We’re going to have a strong start to the (regular) season. I feel like we can accomplish something this season.
“Our younger guys are definitely pulling their weight and that’s good. We need everyone on the plane this year.”
Isley didn’t get much in the way of special teams minutes the past two seasons, with the exception of the latter part of the shortened 2020-21 campaign when he was used on defence due to a rash of blueline injuries.
That could change in the upcoming season.
“He’s got pretty good speed and tenacity — he’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win,” said Konowalchuk. “He’s been engaged right from the start of camp and has been real good for us.
“He’s a leader for us, a versatile player. We’re very fortunate to have him on our team.”
The Rebels open their regular season schedule Oct. 1 in Edmonton. Red Deer will host the Oil Kings the following evening at the Peavy Mart Centrium.
Notable: Forwards Ben King (Calgary Flames) and Jayden Grubbe (NY Rangers), netminder Connor Ungar (Flames) and defenceman Kyle Masters (Minnesota Wild) attended NHL prospects camps and all have been invited to the teams’ main camps . . . American defenceman Logan Wright has returned home after being reassigned by the Rebels.
