By Greg Harder via Regina Leader-Post

The gloves are off for Dyson Stevenson.

The rookie left winger is so determined to become a member of the WHL’s Regina Pats that he’ll do whatever it takes to get noticed. If that means his gloves become optional equipment, so be it.

“I definitely want to show the coaches I’m not afraid to scrap,” offered Stevenson, 17. “I want to show them I’ll fight for a spot and I’ll do anything to get that spot.”

So far, so good.

“I hate to use the word ‘scrapper’ because you’ll think immediately of fighting, but he is scrapping for a spot,” said head coach Curtis Hunt. “More-so than just fighting, he’s playing with some grit, he’s being physical. (Fighting) is great, but you have to play hockey.”

Stevenson made a lasting impression on Hunt late last season during a one-game audition with the Pats. When the dust settled from his WHL debut, Stevenson had recorded a plus-one rating and a convincing decision in a fight with Jordan Kochan of the Prince Albert Raiders.

Stevenson’s willingness to drop the mitts re-emerged in this year’s training camp, including tussles with veteran teammates Cass Mappin and Myles Bell. The trend continued in the pre-season when Stevenson tangled in back-to-back games with Ryley Miller, one of the tougher customers on the Brandon Wheat Kings.

“I knew the coaches knew he was tough,” Stevenson said of Miller. “I wanted to show them I would fight anyone. I kinda picked him. It ended up not bad. The first one was all right. The second one I didn’t do as well. He wanted to fight me (the second time). I wasn’t going to say no to that.”

Regardless of the result, Stevenson’s message was received.

“He doesn’t have to accept that challenge,” noted Hunt. “He’s the kid. I think he has done a terrific job just competing and showing up and embracing what we want, for guys to fight and battle for spots. Because of that he has put himself ahead of some players here who have been complacent.”

Stevenson’s philosophy raises the question of whether a young player should be expected to literally “fight for a job.” Hunt said it’s not an approach he actively promotes but it’s not one he’ll discourage, either.

“The only thing we keep telling them is, ‘How bad do you want it?’ ” he said. “If that means dropping your mitts, show something. If it means scoring a goal, maybe Dane Muench can’t fight but all he has done is score since he has been part of our group. Show us you have an element above and beyond (skating) up and down and chipping pucks and running safe routes. That’s what he has done. He has separated himself.”

Stevenson’s thought process is simple. If he fights his way onto the roster, he believes he’ll eventually have an opportunity to show what he can do with his gloves on.

“I love to score too but . . . I know my role on this team,” said Stevenson, who notched 18 goals and 40 points in 26 games last season with the midget AAA Swift Current Legionnaires. “Right now I’m just gonna grind it out and fight a few times, show them I can be here. If I get that spot, I’ll keep going and keep working hard and hopefully work my way up.”

In the process, Stevenson is providing a necessary element to the Pats’ game.

“You need sandpaper in your lineup,” added Hunt. “He provides that. The thing about it is, everybody has to play with a little bit of an edge and everybody has push back at points in time. I don’t think it would be fair to have him be our protector of all. At the same time, for his age group and his group of peers, he’s doing exactly what he needs to do.”