Hebig grateful for opportunity with Pats
Cameron Hebig was sick to his stomach before Wednesday’s WHL trade deadline, but a move to the Regina Pats was just what the doctor ordered.
“I got the flu pretty bad,” he said. “It was very unfortunate timing. I wanted to be here so bad (for Wednesday’s game against Edmonton) but it’s behind me now. Here I am and I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Players are often caught off guard by trades, but the 20-yearold centre had some advance warning. With a deal imminent, the Saskatoon Blades decided to excuse Hebig from practice on Tuesday so he could go home and await the news.
“I wasn’t sure where I was going to end up or what was going to happen,” he said. “I was kind of nervous but, to hear I was a Regina Pat, it’s unbelievable and so cool.”
Hebig couldn’t stop smiling Thursday after meeting his new teammates and pulling on some Pats’ gear before his first practice at the Brandt Centre.
It’s a big change of scenery for the Saskatoon product, who spent his entire WHL career with his hometown team.
That said, he had no qualms about the move.
“No, I’m looking forward to it,” said Hebig, who makes his Pats’ debut Friday against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. “I’ll be forever grateful for my time in Saskatoon. They were great to me there and (he appreciates) them giving me this opportunity to play in Regina. I want to make the most of this opportunity. It’s such a good place to be right now.”
As the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup, the Pats have a lot to offer a player like Hebig, who is in his final junior season.
He missed all of 2016-17 after struggling with what has been described as some form of postconcussion syndrome.
“I didn’t really get an answer; it was frustrating and confusing but I’m glad it’s behind me,” said Hebig, “Missing that year was tough. It made you see how badly you want to be out on the ice and how grateful you are to be playing this game. I worked so hard to get back to where I am now. I want to keep getting better and try to make the most of each day.”
Pats head coach/general manager John Paddock described Hebig as playing like a man possessed this season as he compiled 30 goals and 58 points in 40 games. The 6-foot, 182-pound speedster was recently rewarded with a contract from the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Hebig was also coveted by the Pats, whose coaching staff had long admired his game. That’s why they decided to roll the dice in parting with veteran goalie Tyler Brown, whose move to Saskatoon opened up a 20-year-old spot.
“It feels good for them to believe in me,” added Hebig, who was a rookie with the Blades in 2013-14 under former head coach Dave Struch — now the Pats’ assistant coach and assistant GM.
“I want to show everybody why they made this trade. I look forward to going out there and working hard each night and doing anything I can to help this team.”
NOTES: Captain Sam Steel is expected to return Friday against Medicine Hat. He got a week off after helping Canada win gold at the world juniors ... F Scott Mahovlich is out week-to-week with a fractured foot ... The Pats are keeping 16-year-old F Logan Nijhoff for the rest of the season while rookie D Marco Creta will soon rejoin the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals. Regina’s final roster includes 24 full-time players: Two goalies, seven defencemen and 15 forwards.