It is inevitable that when Canada sends three teams and 66 players to a tournament, that there will be some players from the same WHL team playing against their teammates.
Such is the case for Rebels forward Jayden Grubbe and defenseman Kyle Masters. Grubbe was named to Canada Black and Masters to Canada Red.
All three teams are stacked with the best Canada has to offer. Six WHL players were assigned to Canada Red and Canada White while just four were named to Canada Black.
The Edmonton, AB native Masters has already earned himself nine games in a Rebels uniform. That experience is valuable heading into a tournament with players from across the CHL as well as the other nations represented at the tournament.
Masters was beaming with joy when discussing donning one of the three jerseys as a player chosen to represent Canada.
“It’s gonna be a great experience representing your country. It’s definitely an awesome experience. I’m just looking forward to it,” said the youngest Rebels defenseman by 11 months.
Masters has already had an opportunity on a big stage as he played at the Canada Winter Games for Team Alberta. The team won a bronze medal, cruising to a 12-0 win over their neighbour to the east, Saskatchewan.
“It is definitely cool representing your province, here being in Red Deer, it was definitely a special opportunity. Now U-17 also being in Canada, it’s just the same, even better,” said Masters about playing for Team Alberta.
When asked about his role on Team Canada, Masters was confident in his abilities. He certainly spoke as though he had been there before and had a positive vibe.
“I think throughout this season so far I have kind of been able to grow my game as a two-way defenseman so I am hoping that carries over to international competition,” added Masters.
The coaching staff in Red Deer appears pleased with the trajectory of Masters’ career in Burgundy and Black.
“I think Kyle’s game has been great so far this year. He’s obviously a younger player in the league and he’s learning the ropes just like a lot of other young players. Sometimes I believe that he feels he can do things that he did at other levels that he’s played at, that he’s been able to dominate. And he is going to be able to do that at some point at our level as well, but he has to know the foundations,” said assistant coach Brad Flynn.
And dominate he did. Masters played 2018-19 with the OHA Edmonton Prep team. In 35 games the then 15 year old defenseman put up five goals and added 15 assists. Pretty gaudy numbers for a kid playing against very good 16-year-old players.
There is a lot to be optimistic about when it comes to Masters, one of two first round picks in the WHL bantam draft back in 2018.
“He’s gonna be a Michelin chef one day but right now he’s still working the fryers. Once he masters that then he’ll move up and maybe work in a restaurant before he becomes a head chef. He has the potential to become a very dominant player right now he is learning the defensive side of the game. It’ll be really interesting to see when he goes to under 17’s I’m very optimistic he is going to play really well because he’s gonna be a lot better rounded player once he gets there from when he came here. He’s gonna have a great tournament there because of the things he’s going through here. Hopefully in the future it is gonna help him be the defenseman he wants to be,” added Flynn.
Masters and Team Canada Red hit the ice for tournament action on November 2nd at 7 PM as they take on Russia in the opening game in Swift Current, SK.
Jayden Grubbe was the seventh overall pick, made by the Rebels at the same 2018 WHL Bantam draft as Masters.
He too was jovial about his being named to one of the teams Canada is sending to the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Swift Current, SK and Medicine Hat, AB on November 2-7, 2019.
“It’s a pretty cool thing to get named to, I am really looking forward to it. It’s gonna be a really cool experience to put on the Canadian sweater, so I am looking forward to that,” said Grubbe. “I am really excited to get my first chance at that and see where it takes me.”
Grubbe has seen action in all of the Rebels 12 games to start the season. He scored his first goal on Tuesday night against the Hurricanes and has potted four assists. He is certainly a gifted play maker, registering 22 assists to go with four goals last season playing in the AMHL with the Calgary Buffaloes.
In Red Deer he has played on the third line most nights, as well as the second power-play and penalty kill units. Versatile and dependable he’s taken on whatever role Head Coach Brent Sutter has thrown at him.
“I think for me just kind of do whatever needs to be asked of me. I can do whatever the coach needs, I can play shut down or play offense, play a grinder role, I can do whatever,” said Grubbe about his role with Team Canada.
“He’s been good. For a 16-year-old kid, he is continuing to understand his positional play and understand how he needs to play in his own zone. He’s really worked hard in that area and he needs to continue to work hard. That offensive side of it will come over time,” added Head Coach Brent Sutter following Tuesday night’s game.
Grubbe and Team Canada Black will hit the ice on November 2nd in Medicine Hat. They take on Team Canada White and puck drop is at 7 PM.
The Bronze and Gold Medal games will be held in Medicine Hat on November 7th.
It should be an exciting tournament for fans of junior hockey and the group of players who are looking towards playing in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup next August. That tournament will also be played in Canada as Edmonton and Red Deer will play host.
