Bleackley thrilled for Team WHL opportunity in Red Deer
By Patrick King for the Canadian Hockey League
Conner Bleackley wasn’t nervous as much as he was curious.
When a Head Coach and General Manager pulls a player behind closed doors for a meeting, the setting is the same circumstance as when a player discovers he’s been traded. After being named captain of the Red Deer Rebels not long ago, Bleackley stepped into Brent Sutter’s office with the sense of security that he wasn’t heading elsewhere.
Bleackley was staying in Red Deer, and the only trade was a Rebels’ uniform for a Team WHL uniform for the SUBWAY Super Series game in Red Deer on Wednesday.
“It wasn’t one of those nervous moments,” Bleackley says of his meeting with Sutter. “I was obviously very excited.”
Bleackley recalls the sense of excitement he felt upon learning Red Deer would host a game in the SUBWAY Super Series. His first thoughts were in representing the Western Hockey League and Hockey Canada in his club team’s home rink, but those good feelings were soon sidelined when the roster was first announced, and his name wasn’t included on Team WHL’s roster.
Shortly thereafter, Bleackley, along with Edmonton Oil Kings goaltender Tristan Jarry, was a late addition to the initial 22-man roster.
“It was such an honour,” he says. “Any time you can represent your country and your league, it’s such an honour and I’m very proud to.”
And yet, Bleackley’s inclusion is not without merit. Although he plays for Sutter’s Rebels, his quick ascension in Red Deer is noted throughout the hockey community. Prior to being named captain of the Rebels, Bruce Hamilton and Kelly Kisio – who, along with Sutter assembled Team WHL’s roster – brought up his name.
“They really felt that he would fit really well in that game and play well for us,” Sutter says. “Obviously, I know what he does for our team and he’s an important player for us.
“He’s a complete player. He plays in all three zones of the ice, he’s a six-foot-one, 200-pound 17-year-old player that has a great shot and his skating is improving. He’s just a young player that has a pretty good understanding of the game. He certainly has been our best forward right from the start and there’s so much potential there for him.”
The comfort level is the same with the player as it is with the coach.
“Brent has coached me for a year and a bit now so we’re really familiar with each other,” Bleackley says when asked if he feels his relationship played a part of his inclusion on Team WHL’s roster. “I think he was really comfortable and happy for me to be selected to the team. He’ll put me in where he sees me fit.”
Bleackley is looking forward to being teammates with rivals Hunter Shinkaruk and Sam Reinhart, to name a few.
“It’s the best players from every single team,” he says. “Just being able to be a teammate instead of always competing against all those guys, I think that will be nice.
“(Reinhart) is a phenomenal player and he was in this game last year so he’s a guy that has been through it and he was the hero last year so that’s pretty cool.”
Perhaps the most enjoyable moment will be representing Team WHL in Red Deer. Bleackley got his wish to be a part of this game, and knows the fans will give his side the same home ice advantage he’s used to seeing in league play.
“I think (the fans are) going to treat it just like a home game for us; I think there’s even more fans coming to this one,” he says. “I know how loud they can get. Last year in the playoffs it was pretty loud in this building and I think there’s no reason why it won’t be that loud come Wednesday.”
The game can be seen live on Sportsnet.
2013 SUBWAY Super Series schedule (7pm local start times):
Game 1 – Monday, November 18, at Gatineau, QC (QMJHL wins 3-2) – Game Summary
Game 2 – Wednesday, November 20, at Sherbrooke, QC (QMJHL wins 4-3) – Game Summary
Game 3 – Thursday, November 21, at Oshawa, ON (RUS wins 5-2) – Game Summary
Game 4 – Monday, November 25, at Sudbury, ON (RUS wins 3-2 SO) – Game Summary
Game 5 – Wednesday, November 27, at Red Deer, AB
(Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, and Pacific)
Game 6 – Thursday, November 28, at Lethbridge, AB
(Sportsnet ONE, and Sportsnet 590 and 960 The FAN)
For information about rosters and tickets please visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.
