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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Pats Add D-Man/Sutter Back Behind Bench In Red Deer

The Regina Pats have acquired 20-year old defenceman Alex Theriau (6'1, 190 lbs).

A fourth round NHL Draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 2010 (109th overall), Theriau was released earlier this season by the Medicine Hat Tigers after an injury delayed his start to the season.

Theriau is entering his fifth season in the WHL. He was selected in the 1st round (6th overall) in the 2007 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. During his five years in the league, Theriau spent time with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Everett Silvertips and Medicine Hat Tigers before coming to the Pats. In 251 career games, the Duncan, BC native has 9 goals and 53 assists and is a career plus 13.

“Alex is a big, strong, mobile defenceman who will add skill and experience to our back end,” says General Manager Chad Lang. “With the injury to our Captain, Colton Jobke, we needed to add a player with the attributes Alex brings with his game.”

Theriau will join the Pats in Vancouer in time for their five game road trip through B.C., starting Friday against the Giants in a game that can be heard on 620 CKRM or viewed on Sportsnet with the game slated for 9:00 p.m. CST.

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Brent Sutter, Owner/President/General Manager of the Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club, announced today the team has relieved Jesse Wallin of his role as Head Coach.
Wallin was in his fifth season as Head Coach, starting in that role in the 2008-09 season. Wallin was an Assistant Coach from 2005-07, and Associate Coach in 2007-08. He also played with the Rebels from 1994-98 before a six-year professional career.

Also announced today, is the appointment of Jeff Truitt as Associate Coach. Truitt has a lengthy history coaching in the Western Hockey League and in the American Hockey League. He was an Assistant Coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes from 1993-96, and then became Head Coach of the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League from 1997-2000. Truitt joined the Kelowna Rockets as an Assistant Coach from 2000-03, was an Associate Coach with the Rockets in their Memorial Cup winning season of 2003-04, then the Rockets Head Coach from 2004-2007. The Rockets won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions in 2003 and 2005. Truitt was an Assistant Coach with Springfield in the American Hockey League in 2007-08, and then became the team’s Head Coach in 2008-09. He was an Assistant Coach with San Antonio of the AHL in 2010-11, and held the same role with Texas (AHL) in 2011-12. Additionally, Truitt was the Moose Jaw Warriors Director of Hockey Operations in 2009-10.

Jeff Truitt has experience with Hockey Canada; in 2004 he was an Assistant Coach with the Canadian National Junior Team, where they won a silver medal. Truitt was also an Assistant Coach with the Canadian National Under-18 Team at the 2007 World Under-18 Championship.

Brent Sutter will be the interim Head Coach.

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