Joining Rebels a ‘full circle moment’ for Coupland
By DANNY RODE
Little did Ty Coupland know that the Red Deer Rebels jersey he wore as a youngster would spell out his future.
Coupland’s family were friends with the Bellerive family in North Vancouver. At the time their son Matt Bellerive was a member of the Rebels.
Matt played two seasons with the WHL squad – 2012-13 and 13-14 – when Ty was five and six.
When he was traded to the Rebels from the Swift Current Broncos at the trade deadline Ty indicated it was ‘cool’ to think back at that time when he was wearing the jersey.
“I remembered having the jersey and going over to the Bellerive home,” said the 17-year-old forward.
“I actually sent a photo to Matt, his brother Jordy and his dad. I also sent a head shot to Matt (from) when he was here.
“He enjoyed his time here and had nothing but good things to say about Red Deer, so it’s pretty cool that I get to be a Rebel, having that connection with the family and to share that.”
Newly acquired Ty Coupland has worn a @Rebelshockey jersey before 😄
(The other kid in the photo… 1st overall NHL Draft pick Macklin Celebrini)
Source -> https://t.co/0EAnNCWFiu #RDREBELS I #WHL pic.twitter.com/AiCdVHNYts
— TROY GILLARD (@Troy_Gillard) January 9, 2025
Coupland was part of a three-team deadline day trade involving the Rebels, Swift Current Broncos and Moose Jaw Warriors.
He admitted the trade was bit of a shock.
“Definitely it’s a little shock when you get moved,” he said. “But really excited that Red Deer picked me up and wanted me and to be here and be part of what’s to come with the Rebels.”
Ty is just one of a number of new faces to arrive in Red Deer in recent weeks.
“For sure it’s a young group here. But there’s a lot of talent, a lot of young guys here and a lot to look forward to in the future. I’m really excited to get going and start to get some wins here.”
Ty has played in five games with the Rebels, scoring once and adding an assist, But the team continues to struggle in the midst of a 12-game losing streak.
“Like any team when you come together with a bunch of new guys the chemistry takes a while,” said Coupland. “But I’m not too concerned, there’s a lot of skill and a lot of compete in this room and we’ll be fine.”
Coupland joined the Rebels just before they headed out on a three-game road trip.
‘We hung out in the hotels and were with each other for basically 24/7, so it helped a lot to get to know the guys on a deeper level and start to build some friendships and connections,” he said, adding he feels he’s fit in nicely.
“We have a bunch of great guys here. It’s a tight knit group and a lot of young guys and some older guys as well. Everyone gets along, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”
As he did in Swift Current.
“I enjoyed it there. They were the team that drafted me and gave me a chance to play. Their GM (Chad Leslie) had a lot of belief in me.”
The Broncos selected Ty in the second round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft on the heels of a spectacular season where he had 36 goals and 65 points in 21 games with the Vancouver North West Hawks U15 AAA team, where he wore the captain’s C.
The following season he played 28 games with the Burnaby Winter Club U18AAA squad, scoring 15 times with 21 helpers. He also played two games with the Broncos, scoring his first WHL goal.
In 2023-24 he dressed for 61 games with the Broncos, finishing with 14 goals and 31 points. This season he played 35 games before being traded and had nine goals and 12 assists.
He looks at himself as a 200-foot player with offensive ability.
“I think I’m a smart player and can score, can be trusted in the defensive zone and can be relied upon in all situations.”
He’s been used in all situations with the Rebels, on the power play and killing penalties.
“In Swift Current I got a little time on the power play but not penalty kill time. Here I’m getting those opportunities and I’m trying to run with them and make the most of my opportunities.”
Ty is listed at five-foot-10 and 170-pounds.
“You can get more size and strength,” he said. “I need to put on some lean muscle to get bigger and stronger.”
With that said Rebels head coach Dave Struch likes what he sees in Coupland, who happens lead the team in scoring with 23 points.
“He’s a good skater, a competitor and wants the puck,” said Struch. “He gets in there first and isn’t afraid to mix it up, not afraid to go to the net. He’s a young guy and with the opportunity with us. It bodes good for the future.”
Ty joins a handful of young players, who owner, president and general manager Brent Sutter added ahead of the January 9 trade deadline.
“If you look at the moves Brent made, they’re all positive. We got a little younger along the way adding to the skill level” Struch noted.
“You see guys who want to make plays, want to score and try to make plays it’s a good thing. There are moments where they try to make higher risk plays and turn the puck over but a lot of those times it’s the right play. Now we ask them to execute harder and faster and make it happen.
“Ty is there. He wants to score, he wants to shoot the puck. If you look at our team we’re missing (Kalan) Lind, (Jhett) Larson and (Ollie) Josephson and that’s 15 to 17 shots a game we’re not getting, but Ty is getting four or five and that’s what we need right now.
Coupland could play two to three more years with the Rebels and in the WHL, a league he always dreamed of playing in.
“I always saw myself playing in this league. I look at the guys who have gone through it and I dreamed of playing in it and it’s come to fruition.
“I want to play pro and, in the NHL, and I felt this was the best stepping point to get there.”
Coupland is ranked 195th among North American Skaters on the NHL Central Scouting Midseason Rankings for the 2025 NHL Draft. He is one of five Rebels on the list.
===
The Rebels return to action this weekend with three games in three days – Friday in Lethbridge, Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium against Moose Jaw, and Sunday in Calgary.
They then hit the roads for three more games before returning home Feb. 7 to start a streak that sees them play 11 of 12 at home.
Struch feels that the team is getting close to breaking out of the losing skid.
“Our best two games since Christmas were last weekend against Saskatoon and Prince Albert. We know it’s been a struggle, no question about it, but we felt we could have won both those games.
“The way we practice, the work ethic and compete is there, but it’s not translating to the games. It’s not there consistently. But over the weekend we felt good about both games.”
Larson has his cast off after missing two months with a broken arm and could rejoin the team as early as this weekend. Josephson has been skating and is close to returning form a lower-body injury. Lind’s return is still up in the air due to a lingering upper-body ailment.