There’s plenty of time to work on entities such as special teams; for now the Red Deer Rebels coaching staff is sticking to the basics.

That approach will change once the final roster is declared, but zero hour is still two to three weeks down the road.

“Right now we’re just going through a lot of systems stuff, basically just the small things that happen in games,” GM/head coach Brent Sutter said Monday. “We’re focusing on things like defensive zone coverage, picking up the man and keeping the gaps closed — just the basic things that can be the difference between winning and losing.”

Sutter had 28 players in camp Monday, but that number was reduced by one when forward Kyle Wanvig departed for the Boston Bruins’ training camp following a practice session at the Centrium. Centre Justin Mapletoft leaves for the New York Islanders’ camp today and defenceman Ross Lupaschuk heads for Washington, D.C., Thursday to skate with the Capitals.

Meanwhile, goaltender Shane Bendera is expected back from the Columbus Blue Jackets’ camp Thursday.

Bendera and Michael Garnett are penciled in as the Rebels’ stoppers this season, with Wanvig, Mapletoft and Lupaschuk also guaranteed jobs upon their return.

In fact, few, if any of the veterans are in danger of being replaced. The returnees who played in Friday’s 4-2 win over Calgary at Rocky Mountain House all performed admirably, as did the prospects.

“You could tell the difference between the guys who played at different levels last year and the guys who played here,” said Sutter. “But I thought that as the game went on all the new guys played well for us.”

Still, the veterans will have to play themselves out of a job if there is to be a turnover in personnel this fall. That’s an unlikely scenario considering they are all familiar with Sutter and his aspirations.

“This is the first time in the last three years the kids knew what to expect coming back because they don’t have someone new here as coach,” said Sutter. “We have a new assistant in Dan (MacDonald), but the head coach is the same and they know what I expect of them.”

Based on Friday’s contest, in which the Rebels picked up speed as the game progressed, it appears as though the players came into training camp in fine physical form.

“One thing that paid off as the game went on was our conditioning,” said Sutter. “We moved the puck quicker and moved it stick-to-stick. We were really attacking with speed, and not just one or two guys, but all five.

“I’d like to see us do that more often and it’s certainly something we’re trying to implement in our game — to have all five guys on the move, supporting each other and getting the puck to the net.”

The Rebels and Hitmen hook up for a preseason rematch Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Airdrie.

Red Deer will tangle with the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Stettler and two nights later at Lethbridge.

-----
Colin Fraser, a 15-year-old centre, picked up an assist in Friday’s victory, then headed home to Surrey, B.C., with his parents. Fraser isn’t eligible to play in the WHL until next year.

-----
Rebels forward Jeff Smith could face disciplinary action for a match penalty he incurred Friday. Smith was penalized for hitting from behind when Hitmen defenceman Jared Carli crashed into the boards and suffered a concussion. Carli was carried from the ice on a stretcher and will be out of action two weeks.  “I haven’t heard anything (from the league office),” said Sutter.  “It’s not like he ran across the ice to hit him. There was a scrum and, yes, he hit him. It’s an unfortunate thing and hopefully nothing comes of it.”