Bigger Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League opponents are likely starting to be wary of battling against 5-foot-7 Tisdale Trojan Liam Rutten.
鈥淚 like playing against bigger opponents because they think they can hit me but they get a surprise and end up laying on the ice,鈥� the 17-year-old said.
The 170-pounder from Alameda is not one to back down or to take things easy. Tisdale head coach Darrell Mann described him as a 鈥渉ard-nosed guy.鈥�
鈥淗e is not very big in stature, but he sure plays big,鈥� the veteran bench boss said. 鈥淗e adds a lot of energy to our hockey team. He is a guy who goes out there and works hard game in and game out.鈥�
Rutten played his first midget season with Estevan in the AA ranks. Last year he established himself as a contributor for the Trojans as a rookie. This season he has four goals and five points in 13 games.
Rutten has scored in each of his last two games. Last week, in Tisdale鈥檚 lone contest, he scored the go-ahead goal after the Prince Albert Mintos had tied things up at 2-2. His third-period marker helped propel the squad to a big 4-2 against a team they are battling for second place in the league.
While he can score, the Trojans count on Rutten on both ends of the ice.
鈥淗e plays physical out there plus he has enough offensive abilities to be able to chip in with goals too,鈥� Mann said. 鈥淗e has been a great penalty killer for us and a guy who can fill in on the power play and give us some offence.鈥�
Rutten enjoys the often thankless task of killing penalties.
鈥淚 like blocking shots for my teammates and killing off a penalty in a tight game,鈥� he said.
As an alternate captain, Rutten is certainly a leader for the Tisdale team.
鈥淵ou can tell he has been a leader in other places,鈥� Mann said. 鈥淗e is really respected around the dressing room by our group. His work ethic rubs off on the other players. When he is playing the right way and works hard, it gets our whole team going.鈥�
Rutten billets with Dean, Michelle, Carter and Jordan Corbett. When asked what he has enjoyed most about playing for the Trojans, Rutten said:
鈥淢eeting new teammates and playing for a great organization with lots of fans.鈥�
