Former Yellowhead Chief, Riley Lamb was one of the surprises of the Western Hockey League season.
Red Deer Rebels head coach Brent Sutter told the Red Deer Advocate that he did not know much about the goalie when he arrived at the team’s training camp. As an 18-year-old, the former Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League MVP established himself as the Rebels’ top net-minder. He was one of a number of 2015-2016 Chiefs, a midget AAA regional team, who moved onto other squads last winter.
“He’s more than proven he can handle playing at this level,” Rebels general manager/head coach Brent Sutter said in a Red Deer Advocate article.
Lamb played 41 games last winter for Red Deer. He had a 3.39 goals against averaged with a 0.899 save percentage and three shutouts. Lamb said that major junior hockey was definitely different from midget AAA.
“They shoot the puck a lot harder,” Lamb said. “There’s more skill at this level and the accuracy of the shots is better. Also, in the WHL, guys can shoot the puck in stride, which makes for a tougher reaction save.”
Elkhorn’s Layne Toder had a very successful first season with the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. In his 16-year-old season, the defenceman help Portage win its third straight MJHL title. Toder recorded 28 points with 11 goals last season. He was named the team’s Rookie of the Year and made the MJHL’s Rookie All-Star Team.
It was a very eventful winter for Foxwarren’s Dawson Barteaux, who ended up joining Lamb on the Rebels. The defenceman started his 16-year-old season with the WHL’s Regina Pats. He had a couple of assists in 18 games with Regina. During his time with the squad, Barteaux cracked the roster for Canada Red and represented his country at the prestigious World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. At the Jan. 10 trade deadline, Barteaux was dealt in a blockbuster deal to the Rebels. He had two assists in 24 games with the team.
Tucker Scantlebury and Dayton Heino were reunited on the Melville Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Scantlebury, a forward from Foxwarren, was third on the team with 29 points, including a team-high 14 goals. He was third on the Millionaires with 97 penalty minutes. Scantlebury won the team’s scholastic award and was the co-winner of the Best Forward trophy.
Minnedosa’s Heino was fourth on Melville with 27 points, including 11 goals. He was the co-winner of the team’s Unsung Hero award.
Adam Robidoux of Binscarth had 19 goals and 41 points in 23 games for the Major Pratt high school hockey team. He played in the Westman High School Hockey League All-Star Game. Robidoux was also a graduating all-star in volleyball and made the Prairie West High School Baseball League All-Star Team.
Strathclair’s Blake Mervyn played last winter for the Rivers Jets of the senior North Central Hockey League. He also spent some time with the 100 Mile House Wranglers of the Junior B Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
