Rebels’ top 2023 draft picks playing to strengths at U18 level
The Rebels’ top two picks in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft are living up to their respective reputations.
Forward Beckett Hamilton and defenceman Jake Missura are currently playing at the U18AAA level in Saskatchewan and are among the top contributors on their teams — Hamilton for his offensive abilities and Missura for his physical play and puck moving skills.
“He (Hamilton) started off really well, he was one of the leading scorers in his league leading into the WHL Cup,” said Rebels associate GM Shaun Sutter.
“He tapered off a bit from there but he’s been a real good player. He’s a dynamic kid who can score goals.”
Hamilton, who suited up for Team Saskatchewan in last fall’s WHL Cup at the Peavey Mart Centrium — scoring twice and adding an assist in five games — has put up 39 points, including 16 goals, in 34 games with the Warman Wildcats this season.
Hamilton (pictured above) was selected 18th overall by the Rebels last May.
Missura, meanwhile, is playing to his strengths with the Saskatoon Blazers. The blueliner, who was also a member of Team Saskatchewan in the WHL Cup, has scored once and assisted on eight goals in 27 games, and most notably has accumulated 48 minutes in penalties.
“He continues to do what he does best,” said Sutter, who selected Missura (pictured below) in the second round, 40th overall, at the time describing the Saskatoon native as the best open ice hitter and possibly the most physical defenceman in the draft.
“He skates well, moves the puck and he’s a real physical guy, so he’s usually laying someone out. In minor hockey you get penalties for that whereas in the Western Hockey League that’s a clean hit.”
Both Hamilton and Missura have signed a standard player agreement with the Rebels, as has forward Nickolas Kovich, the club’s third-round selection in the 2023 draft, 75th overall.
Kovich, who also played in the WHL Cup — with Team BC — has shown some offensive chops of his own with nine goals and 25 points in 22 games with the Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep team.
“He plays net front power play and plays on the top line with his team, getting prime minutes,” said Sutter. “He’s earned that.
“Milan Dragicevic is his coach, a guy who was a good player in the WHL and has a son (Tri-City Americans defenceman and Seattle Kraken prospect Lukas Dragicevic) playing in the league, so he knows what a good player looks like.
“He has earned that respect from his coach and so far so good with Nick. He’s developing as a power forward.”
The Rebels selected netminder Peyton Shore in the fifth round, 100th overall, and the Winnipeg native has been outstanding with his hometown Rink Hockey Academy U17 Prep squad, posting a 8-1-0 record with a 1.90 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.
Shore, who made 53 saves for Team Manitoba in a 6-5 shootout win over Alberta in the 2022 WHL Cup title game, hasn’t signed with the Rebels as of yet, but there’s good reason to believe that may be forthcoming in the not too distant future.
“He’s a really good goalie and has excelled at the U17 level, leading the (Canadian Sport Hockey School Hockey League) in save percentage,” said Sutter. “His stats are phenomenal. He obviously led Manitoba to the WHL Cup gold medal and is doing the same with his U17 team.
“He’s done nothing but check all the boxes at this point and we think he’s going to be a really good WHL goalie.”
The following is a list of the other players drafted in 2003, with position, draft status, team, 2023-24 statistics and comments from Shaun Sutter (all players are 16 years of age this year):
Millar Kramer, defence; fifth round, 106th overall; Battleford U18AAA Stars, 33GP,0G,5A,5Pts.
“It’s been a development year for him at Battleford. He’s like a lot of 15-year-old kids, they move up to the U18 level and they go from being the best player on their team and playing big minutes to where they are now, having to earn minutes. I expect him to take big steps in the second half.”
Noah Milford, forward; seventh round, 150th overall; Calgary IHA U17 Prep; 23-20-14-34, plus 2-0-2-2 with the AJHL Grande Prairie Storm.
“So far to this point he’s had a phenomenal season. He’s a pretty dynamic guy, an excellent skater with real good skill. If you walked into the rink and didn’t know any of the players, he would stand out very quickly because he looks dynamic at the U17 level.”
Kade Pierson, forward; eighth round, 172nd overall; Okotoks U17AAA Oilers; 21-12-8-20, 77PIMS.
“He’s a big, strong guy who’s physical. He’s still learning to play the game and utilize his power.”
Nate Yellowaga, defence; ninth round, 194th overall; SAHA U18 Prep; 15-2-8-10, plus 5-0-1-1 with AJHL Brooks Bandits.
“He’s a top end player and if he ever wanted to come play in Red Deer we’d love to have him. All along his focus has been to go the NCAA route but if he ever changes his mind we’ll be here waiting for him.”
Nolan Schmidt, forward; 10th round, 216th overall; OHA Edmonton U18 Prep; 20-10-8-18.
“He’s been a great surprise as a 10th round pick. With those guys, you usually have to wait for their development. He’s playing on a team with some top picks and he’s earned big minutes and also time on the power play and penalty kill, so his development this season has been rapid. He looks like a top three or four round pick now. We’re really happy with his development and I think he’ll play in the Western Hockey League. He’s a big, strong kid who’s smart. His skating has to keep improving but he’s come a long way in a short amount of time. He was injured for two thirds of the season last year, that’s why he went late in the draft.”
Saul Astill, defence; 11th round, 238th overall; Northern Alberta Xtreme U17 Prep; 24-0-14-14, plus 2-0-0-0 with U18 Prep.
“He’s developing nicely. He’s a big, lanky defenceman who’s still kind of learning what he can do and to trust himself and be confident. He’s also grown a ton and has a big upside to him.”
The Rebels have also listed Olds native Tucker Tullikopf, an ’08-born forward who’s one of the Red Deer U18AAA Optimist Chiefs’ top players this season with nine goals and 31 points in 30 games.
“He’s a talented guy who’s having a good season at the U18 level,” said Sutter.
In addition, Red Deer selected forwards Cooper Soller and Ethan Park in the first and second rounds of the 2023 US Priority Draft, 18th and 40th overall.
Soller has recorded 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 41 games with the Shattuck St. Mary’s U15AAA team while Park, whose statistics are unavailable, is with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres.
“Soller is having a real good year at Shattuck’s,” said Sutter. “Obviously he would be a really good WHL player if he decided to go that route, but he’s like a lot of these American kids — their goal is to play on the US Development team and represent their country.
“If that doesn’t happen we’re hoping they’ll look at us, including Park who has the potential to be a good player.”
