WHL Cup a ‘dream come true’ for Rebels prospect Arcand-Vandale

By DANNY RODE

The Red Deer Rebels couldn’t have been more excited when they saw Cash Arcand-Vandale was still available in the second round – 30^th overall – during the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft.

Shaun Sutter, who was making the picks at the time, felt Arcand-Vandale had all the attributes to be a first-rounder.

The 15-year-old from Saskatoon only shrugged his shoulders when asked about slipping to the second round.

“I don’t know what happened,” he said. “I had a slow start to the season but started to pick it up at the end.”

Cash, who is in Red Deer this week with Team Saskatchewan for the WHL Cup, was pleased when Red Deer made him their selection.

“I had a couple meetings with them throughout the season, so I had a little idea (they were interested).”

Arcand-Vandale attended Rebels camp after signing with the club and played in one exhibition game against the Calgary Hitmen.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “When I signed it was good feeling as well.”

The six-foot-two, 170-pound forward is with the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA squad this season and is off to a good start with a goal and four assists through seven games.

Four of those points came while he was asked to play defence early on.

“We were short a couple guys, so I helped out for four games,” he explained. “I played defence up until my U13AA season,” he said. “I moved up front in my first season of U15.”

While he knows defence, he prefers to play up front and has the talent to do so.

In his draft season he scored 30 goals and 27 assists in 27 games with the Saskatoon Bandits U15 AA team. In three playoff games he had six goals and six assists.

Cash, who is listed as a centre but has largely been playing wing this season, looks back at his time at the Rebels camp as a huge boost.

“I got an opportunity to see how much better the next step is from U18 and how dedicated you have to be,” he said. “I felt good going back and more confident on the ice.”

Arcand-Vandale thanks his father for much of his development.

“He pushed me, helped coach me since atom until this year,” he said.

Cash sees himself as a fast skater who can play a physical game.

“I can provide offence when I have the opportunity and feel I’m a good leader on and off the ice.”

Arcand-Vandale is among a number of Contacts players on Team Saskatchewan, including his linemate Kayden Stroeder.

Cash indicated he learned he made the team in September.

It was a dream come true.

“I watched it (the WHL Cup) before, and it’s been a dream of mine since.”

Team Saskatchewan opens the tournament Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium against Team Alberta.

They face B.C. Thursday at 4:15 p.m. and Manitoba at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Defending champion Manitoba, featuring first-round Rebels pick Graeme Pickering, takes on B.C. Wednesday at 4:15 p.m.

Alberta faces Manitoba at 7 p.m. Thursday and B.C. at 1 p.m. Friday.

Semifinals go at 1:15 and 4 p.m. Saturday with the bronze medal game at 10:15 a.m. and the final at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Following the tournament Arcand-Vandale returns home knowing he has to continue to work toward making the Rebels next season.

“Next step is to go back and continue to work on the basic things,” he concluded.

One thing he won’t be doing is taking shots on his sister who is playing U13 with the boys.

“She says I shoot to hard,” he said with a laugh.