Native former Hurricanes honored by WHL

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A pair of Native former minor hockey teammates are now leaders at the junior level with their Western Hockey League squads.

Wacey Rabbit is a third-year centre with the Saskatoon Blades. And Colton Yellow Horn, a left winger, is in his second season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Both Rabbit and Yellow Horn played together for two years in Fort McLeod. They also have something else in common. Both Rabbit and Yellow Horn have been honored this season as WHL player of the week.

Rabbit was the league's top performer for the week of Oct. 11 to 18. And Yellow Horn was named the circuit's top player for his efforts from Nov. 8 to 14.

Both Rabbit, who turned 18 on Nov. 16, and Yellow Horn, who will celebrate his 18th birthday on May 5 next year are eligible for the 2005 National Hockey League entry draft next June, though it could be cancelled if the league does not resolve its current labor dispute with its players.

During the week he was honored as the WHL's top player, Rabbit collected eight points (three goals, five assists) in four games. And he helped the Blades win three out of their four contests.

What made Rabbit's successes during that stretch even more impressive was the fact he was playing with a heavy heart.

"It was a big thing for me," said Rabbit, who is from the Blood reserve. "My grandma died that week."

Rabbit said he was extremely close with his grandmother.

"She was like my mom," he said. "It was a big thing for my family and my teammates to be going through something like that together," he said.

Rabbit has had a rollercoaster type of junior career. He had an impressive rookie campaign in 2002-03, registering 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 62 games. The Blades were also a force that season as they posted a 40-27-5-0 record.

Rabbit's sophomore season, however, was nothing to brag about. The Blades suffered big time and posted a woeful 7-52-11-2 mark.

"Things just went from bad to worse last year," Rabbit said. "It went hand in hand with how I did."

While his team struggled, Rabbit's point production also fell dramatically. He only ended up with 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 60 matches, a far cry from his rookie totals.

Both Rabbit and the Blades, however, appear to be back on the right track this season.

Saskatoon was sporting a 16-6-5-0 mark following its first 27 contests. And Rabbit was one of the league's top scorers, averaging just over a point per game. He has earned 28 points, including 12 goals, in 27 outings.

Rabbit said he knew the Blades' fortunes would be improved this year, especially after the club earned victories in its first three starts.

The 5-foot-10, 160-pounder realizes the importance of having a good season this year.

"I'm not the biggest guy," he said. "Since it is my (NHL) draft year, smaller guys have to put up numbers."

That's what Yellow Horn, a 5-foot-7, 175-pounder, is doing. In fact, he was tied with two other players for second over-all in the league scoring race after his first 29 games this season.

Colton Yellow Horn had picked up 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in those matches.

"He's having a really good year," Wacey Rabbit said of his former minor hockey teammate. "Any time any Native person can do something good, I'm all for it."

Yellow Horn has already more than doubled the number of points he was credited with during his rookie season in Lethbridge. During his inaugural campaign with the Hurricanes, he collected 14 points, including five goals.

"I really have a lot more confidence this year," said Yellow Horn, who played just around five minutes per games last season while toiling on the Hurricanes' fourth line.

As for this season, Yellow Horn has been on one of the club's top two lines throughout the year. And he's also seeing plenty of action with the team's power play and penalty killing units.

During the week he was chosen as the WHL's top player, Yellow Horn scored s many goals (five) as he did all of last season. He also had two assists in the three games the Hurricanes played that week. Lethbridge was a perfect 3-0 that week.

"That meant a lot to me," Yellow Horn said of his league accolade. "And it gave me even more confidence."

Yellow Horn, who hails from Brocket, also seems to be enjoying the moniker he's been given. He's dubbed the Brocket Rocket.

"It's funny," he said of his nickname. "And it's kind of catchy."