Philly Special: Flyers select Gard and Vlooswyk at 2025 NHL Draft
The Philadelphia Flyers selected not one, but two members of the Red Deer Rebels at the 2025 NHL Draft on Saturday.
With the 57th overall pick in round two, the Flyers took centre Matthew Gard.
Gard was the 37th ranked North American Skater by NHL Central Scouting after co-leading the Rebels in scoring during the 2024-25 season. The Winnipeg, MB recently won gold with Team Canada at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Texas. He was also a second round pick of the Rebels at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
In round five with the 157th overall selection, the Flyers nabbed Rebels defenceman Luke Vlooswyk, who was the 72nd ranked North American Skater by NHL CSS.
The Calgary, AB native played all 68 games in his rookie season with the Rebels in 2024-25 and finished with 17 points. He was a finalist for the WHL Scholastic Player of the Year award. Vlooswyk was Red Deer’s first round pick at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
Gard and Vlooswyk become the fourth and fifth Rebels players to be drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers joining Jeff Woywitka (2001), Colin Fraser (2003), and John Flatters (2005).