Melin excited for return to Red Deer

By JAMES TUBB on November 24, 2022.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

Dallon Melin spent four seasons and 187 games as a Red Deer Rebel. For the first time in his WHL career, he’ll face them with another team.

The Czar, Alta. product is making his return to Red Deer Friday when the Medicine Hat Tigers take on the Rebels.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Melin said. “I played a lot of games in that barn and it’s going to be cool. I’m sure it’ll be a little bit weird for me too, but I’m excited.”

The 20-year-old had 22 goals and 50 points as a Rebel. Melin has had a chance to face his former teammates, as the Tigers hosted Red Deer on Oct. 21, with the Rebels winning 4-2 in the middle of their 15-game winning streak.

Melin was a Rebel when they lived inside Peavy Mart Centrium in the COVID bubble season and was a part of two playoff runs in the red and black. He says he learned a lot in his four years as a Rebel.

“I’ve played with a lot of great players playing there and I’ve played on teams who are on both ends of the spectrum. Being on a team lower in the standings, and then building up to where we were one of the top teams last season,” Melin said. “It was a great four years, I learned a lot and I think that really helped me take what I’ve learned there and bring it here.”

Melin was released by Red Deer in the spring and received an invite to Tigers training camp before working his way into a full-time spot. He’s had four goals and 10 points in 20 games so far.

He says he’s excited to face the Rebels on the road and see his former billet family after the game.

“I obviously had a close relationship with most of the guys on that team. I played on a line with (Jayden) Grubbe and (Jace) Isley for most of the year and, you know, playing against those guys is always pretty fun,” Melin said. “We go at it a little bit, we play kind of similar styles. I like that they’re my friends, but I don’t cut any deals out there on the ice.”

Melin won’t get to face off against Isley, who will serve a one-game suspension for a goalie interference major and game misconduct versus Brandon on Nov.19. That suspension was handed down by the WHL on Monday.

Melin’s style of play is not a popular one in today’s game but a necessity as he is often below the opponent’s goal line digging out the puck while embracing contact.

He says it’s a tough style of play but he gets rewarded through his hard work.

“It takes a lot of work and the pucks don’t always go in for me,” Melin said. “Sometimes the rewards are not in the goals and points, it’s in knowing that other teams’ defencemen don’t want to play against me and that I can wear them down. I really have to keep consistent with that, and points and things like that come after that when I’m playing where I am down low. That’s just a big part of my game.”

Before Melin’s reunion on Friday, the Tigers hosted the Edmonton Oil Kings at Co-op Place. The Tigers won 6-1, see the News’ website for the full game story.

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