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Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com
Though he was a member of one of the top Junior A squads in Canada, Tre Altiman was looking for a change of scenery.
And that’s why Altiman, a member of Walpole Island First Nation in southwestern Ontario, is now stopping pucks with the King Rebellion, who compete in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
Altiman, who turned 19 in November, had started the 2024-25 campaign with the OJHL’s Leamington Flyers.
He appeared in 15 games for the Flyers, posting an impressive record of 11-3-1 and a sparkling 1.72 goals-against average.
Altiman though was not entirely thrilled he was playing second fiddle to Flyers’ goaltender Marcus Vandenberg, a 20-year-old who had suited up for three different squads in the higher-calibre Ontario Hockey League before joining the Leamington club this season.
So, Altiman asked the Flyers’ brass for a trade. He was dealt to the Rebellion last month. The King squad anointed him as their Number 1 goalie.
“I did request it,” Altiman said of the deal which brought him to the Rebellion, which plays its home contests in Nobleton, located north of Toronto. “I just think it’s a better place for me for playing time. Playing the big minutes is going to help me develop a lot.”
While the Flyers have an OJHL-leading record of 30-5-2-1, the King club, which is in a rebuilding phase, is sporting a mark of 15-18-1-5.
Altiman is keen being the go-to guy now for the Rebellion. He knows he’ll be playing more games now than if he had remained in Leamington.
“This is what I want,” he said. “It’s a great team. It’s a great place to play. I’m just proud of it.”
Altiman added he enjoyed his time with the Flyers and having Vandenberg as a teammate.
“I think that’s the good part when you have another good goalie, it’s just going to make you better as well,” he said. “It was a great time there but yeah, it was a little hard. I think it was just good for my development to come here.”
Once it became known Altiman was looking to leave the Flyers, a handful of OJHL clubs expressed some interest in his services.
“This opportunity just came up really quick,” Altiman said. “I think it was a good idea and a good time to come over here and be on the team.”
King head coach Mark Joslin is thrilled the Rebellion was able to land Altiman.
“We’re very, very happy,” he said. “He was on the best team in the league in my opinion. They had two great goalies. He wanted more time and so I think he kind of asked out. We were fortunate enough to get him because he’s a winner. He’s the hardest-working player on the team. And he’s a leader.”
Joslin knew Altiman would be welcomed with open arms by his new teammates.
“As soon as we made that trade, I knew the boys were going to love having him in here as a leader and as the Number 1 goalie,” Joslin said. “For us it was a no-brainer to acquire him.”
Joslin said he knew other league rivals were eager to trade for Altiman.
“I think he looked at our situation and him coming in and getting lots of games and being the Number 1 guy,” he said. “And I think it was an easy decision for him too. So, it worked out for both of us.”
Altiman is hoping to eventually earn an athletic scholarship from an American university. He said some NCAA Division 1 schools have expressed some interest in him.
Altiman is planning to play one more year of Junior A hockey after the current campaign ends. That will hopefully improve his chances of securing an American scholarship offer.
Joslin anticipates the Rebellion will enjoy more success next season.
“We’re going to be a lot better next year,” he said. “We’re rebuilding for the future, which means next year. We expect him to be the Number 1 goalie. We’re going to bring in some good pieces.”
And what does Joslin believe it will take for Altiman to get a scholarship.
“He’s just got to get consistent next year and just keep going what he’s doing,” he said. “It’s not about him. It’s about the team that we put in front of him. And if we do that and support him well, he’ll get his Division 1 (scholarship).”
Joslin added Altiman was rather receptive to joining a club that was not faring as well as the Flyers in the league standings.
“There’s always uncertainty when you come to a new team,” Joslin added. “There’s a new coaching staff and you’re trying to understand the layout of the team and whatnot. But I think he knew we were bringing him in to be the Number 1 guy. And so, once he got here I think he knew he was going to fit in well and be the guy.”