Estevan Power Dodge Bruins rookie blueliner Mark Edmands has taken a simple and steady approach to his work on the team’s top defensive pairing this season.
Edmands, 18, regularly lines up with Bruins veteran Josh Rieger to form the team’s top offensive tandem on the back end as well as supply the necessary defensive presence needed to shut down the opposition’s top scoring lines. It is this latter role that Edmands has taken to heart while leaving the majority of the offensive push to his more-inclined partner.
“You just got to remember to keep a defensive mind when your team is looking for offence,” said Edmands, who has three goals and eight points through 29 games. But “when the time is right I’ll jump in.”
Chris Lewgood, head coach and general manager of the Bruins, said they ask a lot out of “Eddie” and he rarely disappoints. He said Edmands is a strong skater who makes good decisions with the puck, which makes him a natural fit as a left-hand shot to play alongside their team’s best player.
“He defends very well with his skating and the second thing is his decision making,” said Lewgood. “He understands his limits very well and that might be the most important thing a defenceman can do is understand who he is as a player. Eddie is confident enough to jump in plays and get up ice with the rush, but he rarely gets caught and he’s quite often the steadying force.”
Lewgood said Rieger, who ranks second among all Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) defenceman with eight goals and 28 points, plays upwards of 30 minutes each game, which is probably the most by a wide margin among the league’s rearguards. He said Edmands is on the ice for about 20-25 minutes a night and that likely places him at the top of the rookie defencemen class.
“All six (defencemen) we use on the penalty kill,” he said. “Five on five we try and use Eddie and (Rieger) against the other team’s either top line or second offensive line and then whatever other units we can get them out there against to get them more ice. We actually do use Edmands as an extra guy on our power play as well.”
Edmands said the guys he stared down as a top-four blueliner with the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League’s Regina Pat Canadians the past two seasons were a lot smaller and a little slower than what he’s come up against with the Bruins. He said the opportunity to line up against the SJHL’s top offensive players this season was a bit of a surprise, but thanks to his on-ice partner the transition has gone well.
“It’s good playing with (Reiger),” said Edmands. “He talks to me and lets me know when their guys are coming. He gives me a heads up and lets me know what to do.”
