Give Riley Lamb credit; the Red Deer Rebels didn’t hand him anything.

The six-foot, 171-pound goaltender from Rivers is 1-1-1 after three starts with the Rebels this season, posting a 4.30 goals-against average and a save percentage of .874.

The Western Hockey League rookie, who was named the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League’s most valuable player last season, had plenty of competition at training camp in Red Deer and it hasn’t let up yet.

They had two 20-year-olds, Rylan Toth and Trevor Martin, and Dawson Weatherill, 17, a 2014 second-round bantam pick among the contenders.

Toth was sent to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Sept. 16 for a third-round bantam draft pick, and then Weatherill was dealt to the Spokane Chiefs for 19-year-old Brandonite Tyson Verhelst on Sept. 27.

The team now has Lamb, Verhelst and Martin on its roster.

"It was kind of nerve-racking for sure having two 20-year-olds at camp and Dawson Weatherill, who’s really good as well," Lamb said. "I think my play spoke for itself and I think I did a pretty good job against them."

He also did a good job of preparing his successor as the starting goalie with the Yellowhead Chiefs. Reese Jones, who backed up Lamb last season and has .952 save percentage in two starts this year, spoke warmly during a recent interview about how Lamb helped him.

Lamb smiled when he heard what Jones had to say, adding that he enjoyed sharing the net with him.

"It was great," Lamb said. "Any time he had a question I was happy to answer it or every time I had a tip I was happy to give it to him. He’s a great guy so I helped him out as much as I could."

And while Lamb is no longer wearing his familiar yellow, blue and white Chiefs jersey, he has no intention of losing touch with the team.

"Absolutely," he said. "I think most alumni check in on them so hopefully I can catch a game here this year."

Lamb was sensational in the 2015-16 season, leading the midget league in minutes played with 1,811, recording a goals-against average of 1.82, a save percentage of .939 and earning four shutouts.

As a result, he felt good going into Red Deer’s camp, but added it was a completely new challenge.

"I felt pretty confident going in but obviously it’s a lot faster game and everybody’s a lot better," Lamb said. "I’d say it had an impact but not a huge impact."

He made his first visit to Westman Place as a Rebel on Saturday, although he was backing up Martin. Lamb played the night before in Moose Jaw, stopping 33 of 36 shots in earning his first ?victory in the WHL.

"It was a pretty good feeling," Lamb said. "We won in overtime actually so when (Evan Polei) scored we all kind of ripped down the ice. It was a really good feeling to get the first one out of the way."

Lamb was philosophical in watching the game from the bench as the Wheat Kings skated to a 5-2 victory.

"It’s kind of sentimental I guess," Lamb said. "I didn’t play but that’s all right. That’s the way it is in this league. But it was great, everyone was great. I think I had a few fans here from home."

CHL’S?BEST:?Regina Pats forward Sam Steel is the player of the week for the week ending Oct. 2. The 18-year-old forward from Sherwood Park, Alta., scored four goals and added three assists in two games after returning from his first NHL camp with the Anaheim Ducks.

FIGHTING?HUNGER: The Wheat Kings and Heritage Co-op are teaming up with Farm Credit Canada and hosting a stop for that organization’s annual drive away hunger tour on Friday. Volunteers will collect food and cash donations as the Wheat Kings host the Swift Current Broncos at Westman Place on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

NEW?TEAM:?Regina sent defenceman Jared Freadrich to Red Deer on Monday for a fourth-round draft pick in 2017.