Five Rebels on NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings

RED DEER – Five Red Deer Rebels players are included on the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Hamilton (5’11, 173) is in his second season with the Rebels after being the club’s first-round pick, 18^th overall at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. After netting 14 goals (fourth-most by a 16-year-old player in team history) in his rookie season in 2024-25, Hamilton leads all Rebels skaters this season in goals (13), assists (16), and points (29). The Saskatoon, SK native had a C-rating on the NHL CSS Preliminary Players to Watch list identifying him as a potential fourth-or-fifth-round draft pick.

Kamas (6’1, 187) was recently acquired by the Rebels from the Penticton Vees, who selected the Czech blue liner in round two of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Through 24 games in his first season in North America, Kamas has nine points. Kamas represented Czechia at the 2024 World U17 Challenge and the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship, and 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Varga (6’0, 176) was acquired by the Rebels earlier this month from the Kelowna Rockets, who selected the Geneva, Illinois native seventh overall at the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft. He has 14 points in 38 games this season – his second in the WHL – including two goals and one assist in four games wit the Rebels. Varga won gold with the United States at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and played at the 2025 World U17 Hockey Challenge. He also won a national tier one title in 2023-24 with Chicago Mission 15U AAA.

Dillard (6’4, 218) is in his first season in the WHL. He was selected tenth overall by the Everett Silvertips at the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft and was acquired by the Rebels this month. The Flower Mound, Texas native has three points in 19 games this season with Everett and Red Deer. A product of the Dallas Stars AAA Elite hockey program, Dillard helped his teams to appearances at the 2024 16U National Finals and 2023 14U National Finals.

Kuzma (6’2, 195) is another recent arrival to the Rebels via trade from the Seattle Thunderbirds. The St. Albert, AB native was selected in round three of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft by the Regina Pats. He has 13 points in 36 games this season, including three assists in four games since joining the Rebels.

The 2026 NHL Draft takes place in Buffalo, NY with round one on June 26 followed by rounds two through seven on June 27.