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Rebel with a cause

If there's one thing Colten Mayor learned on his way to the Western Hockey League, it’s that hard work pays off. After graduating from the bantam AAA St. Albert Sabres, Mayor found himself on the minor midget Flyers.

If there's one thing Colten Mayor learned on his way to the Western Hockey League, it’s that hard work pays off.

After graduating from the bantam AAA St. Albert Sabres, Mayor found himself on the minor midget Flyers. While disappointed, he saw it as another challenge after being cut from the major midget Raiders. So he worked hard on and off the ice and scored 29 goals (seven game winners) and tied for the league scoring title with 71 points. In the playoffs, he led the Flyers with 20 points in 12 games, eventually losing to the PAC Timberwolves in the north conference final.

In the fall the six-foot-one and 154-pound winger headed south to the Red Deer Rebels’ training camp and simply give it his all.

“I said to myself I'm going to try my best and whatever happens, it's meant to be,” Mayor said. “I made the team and it's been really exciting. All my hard work up until then paid off.”

Eligible for the NHL draft in 2011, Mayor scored two goals and helped on three others in the regular season over 40 contests, with more ice time in his first season than he might have expected because of teammates sidelined by injuries.

“I slowly improved as it went on with practices and games.”

After missing the playoffs for two years, the Rebels returned to the second season, but were eliminated by the Saskatoon Blades in four straight games in the first round.

“It was really exciting. Some of the older guys have never been in the playoffs so it was a real privilege be in my first year and make the playoffs,” Mayor said. “We have a good team and we’ll make the playoffs again and make more noise and push farther than we did this year.”

Mayor, 16, said head coach Jesse Wallin and his teammates helped him develop not only physically, but mentally as well.

“They taught me to play with confidence and always move your feet, make hard passes, shoot in stride and work hard off the ice as well. You have to stay strong and mentally strong as well. It's a long season and it drains you physically and mentally and you have to be responsible enough to take care of yourself when you're living away from home.”

Next season Mayor hopes to be able to play a more prominent role for the Rebels as he develops over the off-season.

“I'm just going to go into camp this year and play my best and try to mould myself into hopefully an offensive role on the team,” he said. “They really like my skill and my vision on the ice and the offensive upside I bring so I have to try to get stronger and put some weight on this summer and hopefully have a good camp.”

In the meantime, Mayor will cheer on the Washington Capitals and his favourite player, Nicklas Backstrom, in the NHL playoffs.

“I like how he plays. He plays with confidence and skill and scores lots of nice goals in clutch situations. He is good defensively as well.”

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