Rebels days away from adding talent in 2026 WHL Prospects Draft
We are now mere days away from an all-important event for the Red Deer Rebels and the other 22 teams across the Western Hockey League.
The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft gets underway with round one on Wednesday (May 6) followed by the remaining rounds on Thursday.
As of Friday, the Rebels head into the draft owning the following picks in rounds 1-10…
ROUND/PICK
1-17th overall (from Kelowna via Moose Jaw)
3-48
4-71 (from Swift Current via Moose Jaw)
4-72 (from Vancouver via Kamloops)
5-98
6-121
6-127 (from Spokane via Kelowna)
7-144
7-146 (from Regina)
7-147 (from Victoria)
8-167
9-190
10-213
As the Rebels get set to welcome a new crop of draft picks into the organization, here’s a look back at last year’s picks and how they fared in 2025-26…
Nolan Wolitski – Defence – Round 1, Pick 7 (signed)
The big six-foot-three, 180-pound St. Albert, AB resident posted 15 points in 27 games for Northern Alberta Xtreme U18 Prep (CSSHL). He added one point in seven playoff games and played for Team Alberta at the 2025 WHL Cup at the Marchant Crane Centrium. A dual Canada/USA citizen who grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wolitski joined the Rebels as an Affiliate Player for the 2026 WHL Playoffs.
Chace Turchak – Forward – Round 2, Pick 30 (signed)
The 5’11, 180-pound forward had a great season for his hometown Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA (AEHL) in posting 45 points (13 goals, 32 assists) in 36 games. He followed that up with six points in four playoff tilts. Turchak also played for Alberta at the WHL Cup (1 goal, 1 assist in 5 games). He appeared in four regular season games with the Rebels and was on the club’s playoff roster as an AP.
Owen Archer – Defence – Round 2, Pick 32 (signed)
Unfortunately, Archer has his 2025-26 season cut short due to injury. He played just seven games for the St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA (AEHL), picking up four points, then played for Alberta at the WHL Cup before missing the rest of the year. The six-foot-one, 200-pound blue liner brings an imposing presence after racking up 68 penalty minutes in just 19 games in his U15 AAA season in 2024-25.
Chase Nielson – Goaltender – Round 3, Pick 56
It was an outstanding season for the six-foot-one netminder from Fort McLeod, AB. Nielson posted a 12-5-1 record, 3.13 GAA and .913 save percentage for Southern Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) U17 Prep (CSSHL). He also appeared in two games for SAHA U18 Prep going 1-0-0 with a 1.31 GAA and .944 save percentage. In three games for Alberta at the WHL Cup he went 2-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .918 save percentage. Neilson was named the CSSHL U17 Prep Top Goaltender and to the First All-Star Team.
Congrats to SAHA U17 Prep goaltender Chase Nielson who was selected to the CSSHL Prairie First All-Star Team. #SAHA #CSSHL pic.twitter.com/tjaqWk0HyE
— South Alberta Hockey Academy (@SAHockeyAcademy) April 23, 2026
Dylan Russell – Forward – Round 4, Pick 76
The Winnipeg native was captain for gold medal winning Team Manitoba at the 2025 WHL Cup, collecting four points in five games along the way. The gritty six-foot-one, 185-pound forward had 14 points and 71 penalty minutes this season for RINK HA Winnipeg U18 Prep. Russell played four games for the Portage Terriers of the MJHL, scoring two goals.
Denys Lupandin – Defence – Round 5, Pick 99
From Saskatoon via Ukraine (his dad Ondrei Lupandin played for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the mid-1990s), Denys played for Ukraine at the recent IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division I, Group A tournament in Poland, helping his team to a bronze medal while earning one assist in five games. The five-foot-ten, 180-pound defenceman nine points and 47 penalty minutes in 43 games for the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA in 2025-26.
Sawyer Holmes – Forward – Round 5, Pick 106
Playing for his hometown Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue U18 AAA, Holmes had 23 points in 37 games, highlighted by a hat trick October 29 versus St. Albert. He added five points in 11 playoff tilts to help the club to a provincial title win. The five-foot-ten, 141-pound forward had three points in four games at the Circle K Classic tournament in Calgary.
Soren Saumweber – Forward – Round 6, Pick 122
The Minnesota native played for three different teams in 2025-26. In 26 games for Cretin-Derham Hall of the state’s high school league, he collected 22 points and 47 penalty minutes. He picked up 22 points for the MN Canes 15U AAA (MNBEL 15U) and 14 points for Blue Army in the Prep Elite League (PEL). Saumweber is currently listed at five-foot-ten and 155 pounds.
Bronx Becker – Forward – Round 8, Pick 168
The Saskatoon, SK native represented his province at the 2025 WHL Cup in Red Deer and had nine points in 44 games with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA. The six-foot, 170-pound forward also had 42 penalty minutes.
Ryan Overskei – Defence – Round 9, Pick 191
A big body who checks in at six-foot-five and 205 pounds, the Maple Grove, Minnesota native had nine points in 26 games for Totino-Grace High. He also played for Team Minnesota U16 at the Minnesota Hockey Festival.
Andrew Nordstrom – Forward – Round 10, Pick 214
The Beaumont, Alberta native recorded 10 points in 33 games for the Leduc Oil Kings U18 AAA.
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The Rebels also selected two players at least year’s WHL U.S. Priority Draft, which is not being held this year as American-born players are now eligible for the WHL Prospects Draft.
Eli Bimmerle – Forward – Round 1, Pick 6
A highly regarded forward despite his small stature (five-foot-nine, 146 pounds), the Bartonville, Texas native piled up 59 points in 49 games for Dallas Stars Elite 16U AAA. At US 16U Nationals he had five points in four games. Bimmerle also took part in the USA Hockey Boys Select 15 Player Development Camp and recently earned an invitation to the USA NTDP Hockey Evaluation Camp.
Paxson Madill – Forward – Round 2, Pick 42
Hailing from Hermantown, Minnesota, the small (five-foot-five, 120 pounds) yet speedy forward racked up 34 points in 27 games in the Minnesota high school league. Madill also had 25 points for the Prep Elite League (PEL) North Stars.
