The first Western Hockey League playoff experience for a foothills teen couldn’t be going any better.
High River’s Conner Bleackley and the Red Deer Rebels are idle and awaiting a second-round meeting with the Calgary Hitmen after dispatching the Prince Albert Raiders in a four-game sweep.
“We came in real confident, we finished off the season pretty strong and got the home ice advantage which was huge for us,” said Bleackley on the sweep of the Raiders. “The biggest thing for our success was our goaltender (Patrik Bartosak) who has been unbelievable all year for us and our top line was our top line.”
Bartosak posted gaudy numbers in the first round, holding the Raiders to five goals in the series and producing a .962 save percentage.
The Rebels didn’t receive an invitation to the post-season dance in 2012 and Bleackley is making the most of his first taste of Western Hockey League (WHL) playoff hockey.
“Everything is ramped up from the regular season,” Bleackley said of the post-season. “It’s a lot more physical, more tactical with coaches matching lines and it’s a little bit faster than maybe in the regular season.”
The 17-year-old kick started a Red Deer comeback in the clinching Game 4 of the opening round with his first playoff marker.
“The fourth game was really the only adversity we faced. We got down 2-0 in the first period and came back to win it,” Bleackley said. “I might have took a penalty they didn’t call and the puck squirted out and I was able to shoot through a screen right over his glove.
“That was a big moment for me. To get that first playoff goal out of the way was something special.”
Bleackley will be looking to add to his playoff memories when the Rebels make the 147 km trek south to meet the Hitmen for Game 1 of the best-of-seven second round series on Thursday.
“It’s very exciting. I know a lot of people that are coming out from High River and have a lot of family in Calgary,” said Bleackley, who chipped in with nine goals and 18 points in 2012-13. “Playing in the second round is special, but it makes it that much more special that it’s close to home and some familiar faces can come and watch.
“It was always a dream to get to play at the Saddledome and it’s pretty cool that I get to now.”
Bleackley, centering a checking line flanked by Dominik Volek and Matt Bellerive, will be in tough against a big and physical Calgary forward corps highlighted by pivots Victor Rask and Brady Brassart.
“They’re a veteran team for sure and it will just be us sticking to our game plan and hopefully they’ll break,” Bleackley said. “And we’ve got a real good goalie back there so anything can happen with a hot goalie.
“It’s got to be everyone going, everyone chipping in and guys like me hopefully providing some secondary scoring.”
For the full series schedule go to www.whl.ca.
