Castlegar Rebels head coach Nick Headrick is looking to improve on a 20-win season in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Neil Murdoch division. The second-year bench boss provides insight on the team and players in their Quick Shift team preview.
KIJHL: What should fans be excited about when it comes to this team?
NH: Our defensive core. We’ve got a lot of new pieces, but we made improvements from last year and have some new, young players who will hopefully help us score more goals. We can get goals from forwards Kwentyn Oss and Tanner Hickey.
KIJHL: What areas are you looking to improve from last season?
NH: The biggest area is our power-play and being more consistent. We had a good stretch to start off last year, but then kind of faded towards the end.
KIJHL: Are there any returning players that you are expecting to have big seasons? Talk about what you are hoping to see from them.
NH: Josh Gamble is one I’m expecting a big season from. Last year as an 18-year-old, he led our team in points (40 in 44 games), so for him to take another jump, hopefully be over a point-per-game and play in all situations.
Carter Peters, 20, will have a big role on the penalty-kill and 5-on-5. He looked really good in camp – he looks faster, stronger and plays a heavy game.
KIJHL: General Manager Jesse Dorans picked up defenceman Benjamin Filippone from the Chilliwack Jets, and Asher Makway in a trade, what do you like that he will bring to the team?
NH: The thing I like the most about Filippone is how mature he is for an 18-year-old. He has played two years of junior hockey, and he carries himself like an older, veteran player. He is big in stature (6-2, 200 pounds) and will eat a lot of minutes. He plays a heavy game on the blueline and is going to be a big addition.
Makway has soft hands and a nose for the net. He had 10 points in 38 games for Osoyoos last season.
Rhyle Weaselhead (2006 – Lethbridge Hurricane U18AAA ) was acquired from Kelowna and is 6-3, 185 pounds. He had seven points in 32 games last season.
KIJHL: Are there first-year players who are ready to make an immediate impact?
NH: Hickey (2006 – Whitecourt Wolverines U18AA) and Oss (2006 – Strathcona Warriors U18AA). Those two guys should play big roles as far as the power-play and scoring. One defenceman we are high on is Kage Prediger (2006 – Strathcona Warriors U18AA). He is very smooth, mobile, and is smart.
KIJHL: When it comes to your leadership group, what are the important characteristics that you want each player to possess?
NH: Right off the bat is our veterans making the young guys feel comfortable on- and off-the-ice as best they can. Our veteran players are expected to set the pace for practice and lead by example.
Reid Gerrand is the captain, and we will name two alternates.
The Rebels host the Nelson Leafs for the season opener this Friday.
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