SPOTLIGHT: Carson Rehkopf
“It’s a dream come true. It’s all I’ve ever known, it’s all I’ve ever played, it’s what I breathe.”
Located in the small hamlet of Utopia, Ontario, a young boy with high ambitions “fell in love and hasn’t looked back” as he took to the slick sheet of ice for the first time. Little did he know, this would be the first step to achieving a lifelong dream.
Meet Carson Rehkopf. A now 18-year-old centerman who is set to be playing in his Junior year for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. Being the first to play the sport, Rehkopf was the inaugural hockey player in his family, demonstrating his love and level of competition for the game right from the beginning. Despite this, he credits his success to the dedication, commitment, and sacrifices his parents made to allow him the privilege to chase his hockey dreams.
“They have sacrificed a lot for me, including moving from Barrie to Toronto to play minor hockey. They have done everything for me growing up to help me get to the places I want to be, and I can’t thank them enough for that.”
As he progressed through the stages of minor hockey into Junior, Rehkopf continued to sharpen his craft, making leaps in both of his first two campaigns with the Rangers. He jumped from 18 goals and 33 points in his freshman season to hitting the 30-goal plateau and tallying 59 points in his sophomore season, which was an important milestone given it was his NHL draft year.
In the summer months, the once young aspiring boy inside of his now 18-year-old self, was set to hear his name called in a moment that he’ll never forget. With the 50th overall selection in the second round, the Seattle Kraken selected him.
“It was unbelievable, I was really happy where I ended up and I can’t wait to get started with them.”
His tenacious work ethic, heavy-hitting size, and wicked wrist shot were key attributes that helped bring his lifelong dream come to fruition. Before the start of the 2023-24 season, Rehkopf got set to attend the Kraken’s training camp in hopes of learning from the “pro guys” and how they carry themselves in efforts to carry it over to his upcoming season in Kitchener.
For Rehkopf and the Blueshirts, they’re both looking forward to improving yet again this year. The now experienced veteran looks to put himself in a leadership role for a hardworking young core that has “no doubt in their minds” that they can prove themselves as a highly competitive team with the sky being the limit.
“I don’t really think there is anything that can hold us back. We pride ourselves on being a hardworking young team. I think the guys are ready to take that next step and fans should be ready to see that.”
Heading into a fresh season, Rehkopf is in search of developing his game to the next level through opportunities to play with a motivated core who are anxious to get underway. Given his competitive nature and eagerness to win, Rehkopf and the Rangers are seeking one thing and one thing only.
“We want to win and win for the city. The organization is first class and it’s such a privilege to be able to play in front of the rink we do every night.
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Written by Evan Doerfler
