Pikkarainen excited to bring physical, skilled game to Rebels
“I’m a big winger who likes to hit and, you know, make plays with the puck in the offensive zone.”
That’s exactly what the Red Deer Rebels and their fans want to hear from Kasper Pikkarainen, the club’s first-round pick at the 2024 CHL Import Draft.
The 18-year-old Finnish forward is excited to bring his game to Red Deer, starting with Rebels Training Camp in just over two weeks.
“I know it’s a tough league. The game is fast, faster than in Finland, in U20,” Pikkarainen said of the Western Hockey League while chatting Monday from his home in Helsinki.
Pikkarainen suited up for TPS U20 in Finland’s top junior league last season, posting 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 34 games. He helped lead the squad to a silver medal finish before playing five games for TPS in the Finnish Hockey League (Liiga), the country’s top pro circuit. Pikkarainen was one of just a handful of 17-year-olds to play Liiga games in 2023-24.
“I was really nervous before the first game, you know, but it was fun,” he said of his pro debut. “I think I played pretty, pretty good there. So, yeah, I liked it. The game was faster, and the guys were bigger than in the U20 league.”
Pikkarainen certainly holds his own size-wise, checking in at the recent World Junior Summer Showcase at six-foot-two and 190 pounds.
He cites Matthew and Brady Tkachuk as players he draws influence from, something Rebels fans will surely come to love and opposing players will no doubt love just a bit less. Pikkarainen also noted that he thinks playing on North American-sized ice, as opposed to the larger international ice surface, will suit his game well.
Pikkarainen made the trek to Las Vegas last month for the 2024 NHL Draft where he was picked in the third round, 85th overall by the New Jersey Devils. His dad Ilkka played 31 games for the Devils in 2009-10.
What did he think of spending a few days in Sin City?
“It was really nice, you know, to see what it what it was about. I’d always seen it in movies and like that. But you know, when I got to see it, it was exciting.”
The following week, the Rebels nabbed Pikkarainen 44th overall at the 2024 CHL Import Draft. His signing of a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the club was announced last week, on his 18th birthday.
“Yeah, it was the best present that I got,” he admitted while sporting a sizeable grin.
NOTES – Rebels players will be making their way back to Red Deer and will check-in for Training Camp starting Thursday, August 29. A full Training Camp schedule will be posted later this month. Season Tickets for 2024-25 remain on-sale. Call the Rebels office at 403-341-6000 or click here for details.
