NHL Draft Recap: Gard, Vlooswyk thrilled to fly into Philadelphia
By DANNY RODE
The Philadelphia Flyers saw something in the Red Deer Rebels this season that they took into heavy consideration.
Both members of the Rebels who had their names called at the 2025 NHL Draft – Matthew Gard and Luke Vlooswyk – went to the Flyers.
Gard was picked in the second round, 57th overall, while Vlooswyk went in the fifth round, 157th.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Gard, who didn’t make the trip to Los Angeles for the draft.
On the other hand, Vlooswyk and his family were in attendance. Luke did admit in a media scrum at the draft that it was a bit of a wait to hear his name.
“It’s one of those things as you never know when you’re going to get drafted, you just have to stay composed,” said the Calgary native. “You can’t get too high or too low, but when I heard my name called, I was pretty ecstatic. It was well worth the wait.
“The biggest thing was I just wanted to get picked. It didn’t matter where. Sure, maybe it could have been higher, but I’m grateful to be drafted by a great organization.”
He indicated his parents played a role in him being relaxed.
“The biggest thing they told me was to take deep breaths, that everything will work out as everything happens for a reason. It was tremendous having them in my corner, being able to lean on them at a stressful time like that. It was awesome.”
As for Gard he was expected to go in the second round.
“When I heard my name, it was a relief in a sense. I was definitely happy about it.”
He wasn’t sure who he would end up with, but “we spoke throughout the year, and I felt I had a good interview with them at the combine.”
The fact is Gard interviewed with every team except for Columbus.
“So in that aspect it was hard to tell,” said the Winnipeg native adding it was a dream come true.
“I think throughout my whole life this was a goal of mine. I really felt I could do it when I was about 14.”
Luke said he had a feeling the Flyers were interested in him.
“Although I really didn’t know where I’d go. I didn’t talk with them much during the year but had some good interviews late in the season. So had my eye on the possibility it would be them.”
Both Gard and Vlooswyk have since attended Flyers development camp in Philadelphia.
“It’s cool to have Luke here for sure,” said Gard.
Both players do bring an ingredient that fits the Flyers style – size.
Gard, who is listed as a centre, but also plays the wing, is six-foot-five, 195 pounds while Vlooswyk, a right shooting defenceman, is six-foot-five, 201 pounds.
Rebels owner/president/General Manager Brent Sutter called Matthew right after he was drafted and talked with Luke, who feels Sutter and the Rebels played a major role in his success.
“Playing with the Rebels is awesome. Red Deer is a first-class organization. They treat you like a pro team with pro habits, pro everything. It tremendous. I wouldn’t be here without them.
“Brent is so knowledgeable about the game and having him on my side is such a huge part of it. He gives me so much advise. I was fortunate enough to be selected (in WHL Prospects Draft) by a great organization.”
Luke said in the media scrum that he feels the biggest part of his game is steadiness and reliability. I think I defend well and being six-five I use my reach to my advantage and make a good first pass.
“I feel if everything goes right my game translates to the NHL very well.”
He does feel he need to continue to work on his skating.
“Being six-five I’m always catching up to my body a bit. So that’s something I’ll be working on this summer and in the future.”
Last season Vlooswyk showed his steadiness as he finished with a plus-eight, tied for second on the team, one back of Derek Thurston.
He believed playing against top competition in the Central Division helped his game.
“It helped push my game,” he said. “As a team we didn’t have our best season, but we traded out some of the older guys and I was able to take more of a role. I was able to go out there against other team’s top lines and it really pushed me, and I was able to showcase myself.”
The Flyers camp involved close to 45 players.
“It’s a good way to get ready for our season,” concluded Gard.
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Two Rebels players who did not have their name called at the NHL Draft were invited to development camps – forward Jaxon Fuder with the Dallas Stars and defenceman Derek Thurston with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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"Steadiness and reliability."
Hear from 6-foot-5 @rebelshockey defenceman Luke Vlooswyk after being selected by the @NHLFlyers in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.#LetsGoFlyers | #NHLDraft2025 pic.twitter.com/Q1EKbTOR5Q
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 28, 2025
