Kuzma welcomes fresh opportunity, expanded role with Rebels
By DANNY RODE – If Cameron Kuzma was going to get traded coming to the Red Deer Rebels wasn’t the worse thing.
In fact, the St. Albert native is returning to his home province for the first time in his WHL career.
“It’s nice being an hour and a half away from home, I’m pretty happy with that,” said the six-foot-three, 200-pound 17-year-old centre.
Kuzma grew up playing in the Edmonton area before being selected in the third round (61st overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft by the Regina Pats. He spent the 2023-24 season with the Notre Dame Hounds U18 AAA team as he prepared for his WHL debut.
He played nine games with the Pats in 2023-24 before playing 46 games the following year, when he scored four times and added 14 assists.
However, that was his final season with the Pats as he was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds in the off-season. He spent 32 games with the Washington State squad before once again hitting the road, this time to the Rebels.
“It was a surprise,” he said. “I went in for a meeting, and they said I was getting traded, so I walked across the hall.”
You see, the trade went down on January 2 when the Thunderbirds were already in Red Deer to play the Rebels the next night. That ended up being Kuzma’s Rebels debut.
“It was good getting here and meeting some of the new guys,” he said. “I did know (Cole) Temple and (Noah) Chadi from before and there were some other familiar faces such as (Aleksey) Chichkin.”
Kuzma has fit right in with the Rebels, having picked up seven points on a goal and six assists in nine games. He had four goals and six helpers in 32 games with Seattle.
“I feel good. I like to play a gritty game, a bit physical and also as well as the offensive side. I feel I’m a 200-foot-player.”
Cameron believes he could have been used in a more efficient role with the T’Birds.
“I wasn’t playing as big of a role as I thought I could. I thought I could have played a bigger role and helped the whole team.”
He felt he could have been used more in the defensive zone.
“To be trusted in those positions,” he said. “I feel I could be out there in those positions … I wanted to be used in those critical situations.”
He added he’s always been an offensive forward but “wants to work in the D Zone too
“There are different styles, but I’ve been working hard and putting in the extra time there as well.”
Kuzma will be looked at to continue to grow his game along with an extremely young roster. A roster with the potential to grow into a premier team in the league.
“We have a lot of new guys … we’re young but I feel we have a great future ahead of us, we just need to go hard from here.
“The coaches are willing to work with us, pushing us every day, the future is bright.”
Kuzma’s future may eventually end up with Lake Superior State University, with whom he has a future commitment.
“I’m excited for that as well, but I’m focusing on what we have here, I’m excited to be in Red Deer.”
He’s also excited about the 2026 NHL draft.
“That’s one thing I’m looking forward to, that’s a dream. I hope to do everything I can to get there.”
As of now, he’s doing everything he can to get into the playoffs.
The Rebels are tied for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with the Regina Pats as they then hit the road on a six-game, 10-day trip through the B.C. Division, starting Sunday at 5 p.m. MST against the expansion Penticton Vees.
They don’t return home until Feb. 7 against the Moose Jaw Warriors.
