Rebels thrilled with 2025 draft class
By DANNY RODE
It was a long and gruelling two days, but the Red Deer Rebels future took a step forward during WHL Draft Week.
Rebels Director of Player Personnel Jamie Novakoski, the team of Western Canada and U.S. scouts and team owner, president and GM Brent Sutter spent a busy Wednesday and Thursday in the Rebels’ boardroom as they oversaw the Penticton Vees Expansion Draft followed by the WHL U.S. Priority and WHL Prospects Draft.
When the final touches were put on late Thursday afternoon, the Rebels had 13 new bodies in their system — nine Canadians and four Americans.
Once Novakoski was able to step back and take a breath, he admitted he couldn’t have been more excited.
“We’re ecstatic,” he said. “We addressed what we were looking for going into the draft.
“We got some defencemen who have size and meanness, can still move picks, move around the ice and play valuable minutes down the road for the Red Deer Rebels.”
One of those is six-foot-three, 179-pound Nolan Wolitski of St. Albert and the Northern Alberta Xtreme, who they picked seventh overall in the first round.
“We were very happy to see him at seven to say the least,” said Novakoski. “He’s a big strong kid, who isn’t done growing yet. He’s got good hockey sense and got meanness to his game.
“He plays to win and sticks up for his teammates and is a guy who will play heavy minutes down the road for you in all situations. Maybe not on the first power play but probably the second power play.”
Wolitski has some offensive touch as well as he scored nine times to go with 40 assists in 48 games and had 78 penalty minutes.
There was some thought that Rebels would look at selecting a forward with their first pick after they struggled to score this season.
“We definitely were, but we didn’t expect Nolan to slip,” explained Novakoski. “We were prepared to take a forward, but Nolan happened to be there.”
But overall, he feels they definitely added offensive skill.
“Some of the players we got we added some skill … some smaller skill guys with potential to grow. Some two-way centremen who play the game the right way, can be meaningful role players at this level and can be important guys you need in the playoffs to be successful.
“I think we got some guys who are pure goal scores who can finish with natural scoring ability.
“So, we addressed everything we’re going to need and more.”
One of the players they expect to add to the offence down the road is second-round pick Chase Turchak, a five-foot-10, 147-pound winger from Calgary and the CBHA U15 AAA Bisons. Turchak had 52 points on 24 goals and 28 helpers in 32 games.
“We loved him all year,” said Novakoski. “He seemed to get better and better every time we saw him. He was noticeable and took over the game with a strong forecheck. He finishes his checks and he’s good great hockey sense, creates turnovers and creates chances for his linemates.”
The Rebels had a pair of second-round picks, adding six-foot- two, 189-pound defenceman Owen Archer of St. Albert and the St. Albert U15AAA Sabres with the 32nd overall pick. Turchak went 30th.
‘We were ecstatic he was still there,” said Novakoski of Archer. “He’s another big kid who gets around the ice fine, moves the puck and has good hockey sense with some nastiness to his game too. He was suspended a few times this year if you can believe that.”
Because of that he played only 19 league games, finishing with three goals and 19 helpers with 68 minutes in penalties.
The Rebels took the second goalie off the draft board in the third round when they selected goaltender Chase Nielson of Fort McLeod and the Lethbridge Golden Hawks U15AAA. Rink H.A. Kelowna goalie Dylan Mingo went to Moose Jaw in round two.
Nielson finished the year with a 3.67 goals-against-average and a solid .923 save percentage in 24 games.
“Gordo (goaltending coach Ian Gordon) had him as a goalie he really liked and was ecstatic he was there., It’s a bit of an early pick to take a goalie, but we have confidence in the fact Gordo can develop him into a very good starting goalie in our league. Gordo has had a lot of success and knows his goaltenders and was excited to have him at three (56th overall). That says a lot in itself.”
The next thing on tap for Novakoski and crew is to invite guys who they like but weren’t drafted to their fall training camp.
“We’ll send out invitations we’re interested in,” he said, adding they’ll be looking at local kids for sure.
They will also be working on the CHL Import Draft on July 2. This year CHL teams can have three imports on their roster. The Rebels currently have two in Samuel Drancak (CZE) and Gleb Semenov (RUS).
“We’re working on that as we speak, and will continue until draft time,” said Novakoski. “If we get three it’s hard to say. But ideally, we’d like three and will look at offence as Euros have to be special players and game breakers. We pick 19th and there should be quality players available.”
Rebels also pick 80th and 141 if they want.
The Rebel did suffer a tough loss this week when defenceman Doogan Pederson went to the Penticton Vees in the expansion draft.
“Losing him hurt, but unfortunately you have to leave people open and he was one of those. It’s a numbers game,” said Novakoski.
The Rebels protected 16 players and made a trade offer with the Vees in a bid to avoid losing a player, but Penticton declined.
The remainder of the Rebels’ 2025 WHL Prospects Draft selections are:
Round 4, 76th Overall
Dylan Russell, F, 5”8”, 136; Winnipeg
Winnipeg Wild Red U15AAA – 26GP, 26G, 26A – 52Pts, 32PIM
“Tall, lanky centre. Listed at five-foot-eight, but closer to five-10 or 11 and is expected to grow. Skates well, finishes his checks. Not a pure goal scorer but creates so many chances by working hard and competing and turns over pucks in the corners by being strong and sets up guys.”
Round 5, 99th
Denys Lupandin, D, 5’11”, 170; Saskatoon, SK
Saskatoon Outlaws U15AA – 27 GP, 11G, 20A, 31Pts, 106 PIM
“A kid who grew up in the Ukraine before moving to Saskatoon. A smooth skating defenceman. Skates so well and pound for pound is one of the best hitters in the draft. Didn’t really expect him to be there.”
Novakoski lives in Saskatoon and saw him play a number of times.
Round 5, 106
Sawyer Holmes, F, 5’8”, 135; Edmonton
Edmonton SSAC U15AAA – 34 GP, 30G, 15A – 45 Pts, 44PIM
“A skilled guy. Not the biggest but plays bigger than his frame. Is a great finisher with good hockey sense. If you need a goal, he’s the guy to get you one.”
Round 6, 122
Soren Saumweber, F 5’10”, 140; Roseville, MN, USA
Shattuck St. Mary’s Sabres 14U – 59GP, 16G, 22A – 38 Pts, 46PIM
“Two-way guy who plays hard, plays the game the right way. He wanted to come to Red Deer because he feels we play the game the right way and it fits his game. He’s one of the better two-way forwards in the States.”
Round 8, 168
Bronx Becker, F, 6’0”, 165; Saskatoon
Saskatoon Outlaws U15AA – 29GP, 21G, 26A – 47 Pts, 66PIM
“He’s captain of his team and a fantastic kid. Great character. Not a pure goal scorer but will put up some numbers. Kills penalties and will protect a lead late in the game. Will do everything you want of him. Going to play with the Saskatoon U18AAA Contacts which is a good place for him.”
Round 9, 191
Ryan Overskei, D, 6’6”, 187, Maple Grove MN, USA
Minnesota Walleye 14U – 19GP, 2g, 5A – 7 Pts, 14PIM
“Comes form a good hockey area and is a good kid who moves well around the ice. We’re excited to see him.”
Round 10, 214
Andrew Nordstrom, F, 5’11”, 168; Beaumont
Leduc Oil Kings U15AAA – 34GP, 29G, 33A, 62 Pts, 48PIM
“We liked him through the course of the year. He slipped a bit as his second half of the year wasn’t as good as his first that’s why we got him where we did. A good two-way player who has an edge to him. He’ll be a solid second- or third-line winger.”
