Ferry brings clear goals to Rebels rookie camp

By DANNY RODE

Nikolas Ferry has an idea what his future holds.

The 15-year-old native of Los Angeles his sights set on playing with the Red Deer Rebels as early as next season and eventually making the National Hockey League.

But first it’s a matter of showing well in Rebels rookie camp and having another strong season down south with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks U15AAA T1 Elite program

So far so good.

He’s stood out in the early portion of the camp, including scoring a spectacular goal in a rookie scrimmage Saturday afternoon, toe-dragging past a defender and picking the top corner.

“I like to think I have some offensive skills,” said the quiet spoken rearguard.

But it’s the defensive and physical side of the game the six-foot, 185-pound Ferry believes is his strength.

“I like to play a physical game, laying the body as much as I can … make the right plays and not do anything out of the ordinary. Keep it simple and move the puck, that’s my style.”

The Rebels drafted Ferry in the first round, 15^th overall, in the 2024 U.S. Prospects Draft. It was something he was looking forward to.

“The WHL is always the way I wanted to go, especially in Red Deer,” he stressed. “They have a great facility and a great program.”

He admitted he didn’t know much about Red Deer until after being drafted and talking with the likes of now former Associate GM Shaun Sutter.

“They helped me get an understanding,” he said.

One aspect of playing in Red Deer Ferry is looking forward to is getting out of LA.

“I’m not a big fan, too much traffic and people. I like smaller places,” said Ferry, who lives in the Long Beach area.

“This is more like hockey.”

Ferry went through a traffic-related horror of his own when he was hit by a car on his bike.

“It was sad to hear about Gaudreau and his brother,” said Ferry of this week’s tragedy in New Jersey, adding, “I was on my way to school when I was hit.

“I injured my ankle and spent most of the summer rehabbing.”

Having an athlete from the City of Angels is nothing new for the Rebels. Veteran defenceman Quentin Bourne is from that area while Ethan Park, played in LA with the Jr. Kings, the same program Ferry played with last season.

“I know Park a little and heard of Bourne,” he said.

He also knows Zach Schwartz (Edmonton, AB) and Bodi Anderson (Eagle River, Alaska), both of whom are with him in the rookie camp.

“I played against Bodi, who was in Alaska and with him at the National camp and the Pacific camp,” he said.

Nikolas will return to the US National U15 camp again this year in Buffalo.

“They bring in around 100 to 120 kids from across the country,” he explained. “A camp like this but way more players.”

But first is a tournament in Chicago next week for which Ferry and his dad will head straight from Red Deer to the Windy City.

After that, Ferry returns to the Anaheim system this year after spending one year in the LA Jr Kings U15AAA program. He had four goals, 16 assists and 83 minutes in penalties in 68 games last year. The previous year he was with the Anaheim Jr. Ice Dogs U13AAA team where he had 10 goals, 20 assists and 102 PIM in 40 games.

Ferry’s mom got him into hockey when he was three or four.

“She’s a big hockey fan, a big Kings fan, and she bought me some skates and the year after I was playing cross-ice hockey.

“They have good programs down there, but not as good as up here.”

Nikolas indicated his dad never played hockey but water polo instead. Ferry played baseball and soccer growing up and got into lacrosse last year but won’t be able to continue with it due to scheduling. When Nikolas does return home, he’ll be taking his schooling online.

There’s a good chance Ferry will play in the Rebels annual Black and White game Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Entry is by donation to the Red Deer Food Bank.

The Rebels preseason opens Sept. 6 in Calgary against the Hitmen. They host the Lethbridge Hurricanes the following night and the Medicine Hat Tigers Sept. 13. They travel to Edmonton to take on the Oil Kings Sept. 14 before opening their regular schedule at home Saturday, Sept. 21 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the Red Deer Advocate Home Opener.