https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/tag/ben-king/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:02:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/2026-training-camp-rookie-rosters Thu, 27 Aug 2026 15:38:04 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/2026-training-camp-rookie-rosters Rookie Camp team rosters will be posted Friday afternoon (August 28) CLICK HERE for Main Camp rosters CLICK HERE for Training Camp schedule]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/2026-training-camp-main-rosters Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:26:48 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/2026-training-camp-main-rosters CLICK HERE for Training Camp schedule ]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/excitement-level-high-as-rebels-training-camp-begins Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:09:26 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/excitement-level-high-as-rebels-training-camp-begins By DANNY RODE - Brent Kisio couldn’t have been more excited as he stepped up to the mic for his first press conference with the Red Deer Rebels. The new head coach of the WHL squad had to smile as he indicated he had settled in and was ready to open camp this week. “It’s exciting to be around the rink and be part of the Rebels organization. I’ve been around this city for a long time, growing up around here, and it’s fun to be part of it.” Kisio arrived in the city this month and quickly began setting the stage for the season. “We’ve been working hard already, establishing our structure, our structure and work ethic,” he said. “It’s exciting to start seeing the veterans coming in, the young guys too. For me it’s getting to recognize the faces and meeting all the guys.” He had the chance to meet several veterans fact-to-face, and has talked with newly appointed captain Beckett Hamilton. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about him,” he stressed. “He plays the game hard and the plays it the right way. He’ll be a great captain.” He’s also had an opportunity to meet his coaching staff, all of whom have returned from last season. “They are a really good group. I’ll be leaning on them a lot.” A talented rookie crop will be arriving Friday with scrimmages beginning Saturday. “I’ve heard a lot about them and I’m excited to see them. They worked hard all summer, and you want to see them apply that to the ice and see how they have grown as a player. Hopefully some players have taken big steps.” For Kisio the camp will be the first steps in introducing his style of play. “I want a team that works hard, is an offensive team that transitions quick and plays fast. I want a physical team. I think Red Deer is known to be a physical organization, a hard-working one and that’s what this city stands for and we want to make our fans proud and bring that here as an organization.” Kisio has a long coaching history in the WHL, spending eight years as an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitman and his father Kelly, and eight years as head coach of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. So he knows a thing or two about the league, but he also has been away for three years as an assistant coach with the AHL Henderson Silver Knights. “I’ve been in the league for a long time, but there is more uncertainty now,” said the 43-year-old. “There’s more Americans coming in, who can make an impact, and a lot of different players who can impact the league in different ways. So, we’ll see where we stand.” Brent did have to laugh when asked about wearing the Rebels hoodie. “I think a lot of my former players wouldn’t like this look.” He added that he grew up not exactly liking the Rebels. “I grew to hate this organization because I respected it,” he said. “There were a lot of battles, a lot of playoff battles and that came respect.” He added that he wants to uphold the team’s standards as he returns to the city his dad played in with the old Red Deer Rustlers Junior A team. “That’s part of it. It does feel like I’m coming home.” The fact Brent coached pro for three years he can take that knowledge onto the ice. “It takes a lot to make the NHL. There’s nothing easy about it. So, I know what the kids need to do to reach that next level and I know it can end quick.” Unlike last year when the veterans and rookies were on combined teams at camp, the format has gone back to separate main and rookie camp squads. Veterans register Wednesday at the Marchant Crane Centrium before jumping into fitness testing at the rink and RDP. They have on-ice fitness Friday morning before scrimmaging at 4 p.m. Rookies arrive Friday and have two scrimmages Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and one Monday at 8 a.m. The veterans scrimmage Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 4:30 p.m. The veterans and rookies will be combined for the annual Black and White Game on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the Mikel McIver Cup up for grabs. Fans are asked to donate to the Food Bank and the CARSTAR Drive for Success school supplies campaign.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/2026-training-camp-schedule Mon, 24 Aug 2026 17:20:09 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/2026-training-camp-schedule RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels are excited to announce the schedule for their 2026 Training Camp. Players report for registration on Wednesday, August 26, before taking part in off-ice fitness testing at Red Deer Polytechnic. On-ice testing is set for Thursday morning. Practice and scrimmage sessions at the Marchant Crane Centrium begin Friday. Rookie Camp starts with registration Friday with scrimmages starting Saturday. All practices and scrimmages through Monday, August 31 are open to the public. Times throughout camp are subject to change. 2026 Training Camp wraps up Tuesday, Sept. 1 with the Black and White Game at 7 p.m. at the Marchant Crane Centrium with the winning team being presented the Mikel McIver Cup. Fans attending the Black and White Game are encouraged to bring donations for the Red Deer Food Bank or CARSTAR Drive for Success school supplies campaign. Fans can also check out Season Seats that are available for the 2026-27 season. The Rebels Authentix team store will also be open during 2026 Training Camp giving fans their first chance to load up on fresh gear for the new season. Training Camp Store Hours Saturday, August 29 – 9 a.m. to Noon Sunday, August 30 – 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 1 – Starting at 6 p.m. for Black & White Game Training Camp On-ice Schedule Friday, August 28 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Main Scrimmage Saturday, August 29 9:30 am – 11:00 am Rookie Scrimmage 11:15 am – 12:30 pm Main Practice – Group A 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Rookie Scrimmage 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Main Scrimmage Sunday, August 30 8:00 am – 9:15 am Main Practice – Group A 9:30 am – 10:45 am Rookie Scrimmage 11:15am – 12:30pm Main Practice – Group B 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Rookie Scrimmage 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Main Scrimmage Monday, August 31 8:00 am – 9:15 am Rookie Scrimmage 9:45 am – 10:45 am Main Practice – Group B 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Main Practice – Group A 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Main Scrimmage Tuesday, September 1 7:00 pm Black vs White Game Following the conclusion of Training Camp, the Rebels will play four preseason games (click here for schedule). The Red Deer Rebels being their 35th season of Western Hockey League play when they visit the Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday, September 18 followed by the Red Deer Advocate Home Opener at the Marchant Crane Centrium Saturday, September 19 at 7 p.m. versus the Oil Kings. Tickets for this and all Rebels home games this season are available through Tickets Alberta.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/lisy-slovakia-5-nations Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:42:05 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/lisy-slovakia-5-nations th overall in round two of the 2026 CHL Import Draft. He suited up in 62 games and had 22 points, including five goals and 17 assists. The native of Bratislava, Slovakia played for his country at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Minnesota. He previously represented his country at the U16 and U18 levels. Lisy will report to the Rebels following the completion of the Five Nations tournament.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/carstar-drive-for-success Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:51:57 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/carstar-drive-for-success CARSTAR are teaming up to host a school supply drive! Drop off school supply donations at participating CARSTAR locations from August 10–31 and help our future all-stars start the school year strong. There are two great CARSTAR locations in Red Deer... 4517 54 Avenue 498 McCoy Drive #1]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/former-rebels-forward-chris-douglas-to-play-pro-in-slovenia Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:09:00 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/former-rebels-forward-chris-douglas-to-play-pro-in-slovenia HK Olimpija Ljubljana (Olimpija Ljubljana Hockey Club), a professional ice hockey club from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Douglas, who hails from Richmond, BC, played 250 games for the Rebels from 2016-21. He recorded 98 points and 184 penalty minutes in those games and competed in 13 playoff contests with the club. After graduating from the Rebels, Douglas put his WHL Scholarship to great use as he played five seasons in U-Sports with the UBC Thunderbirds. He was the club’s captain for four seasons and had 120 points in 124 career games, adding 19 points in 25 playoff games. Douglas helped the Thunderbirds win the Canada West conference title in 2023-24. Douglas made the jump to pro hockey earlier this year after graduating from UBC. He joined the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans in March, recording one point in 11 games and playing in two playoff games. HK Olimpija Ljubljana competes in the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL) and the Slovenian Championship. Olimpija has won the Slovenian Championship six times since being founded in 2004, including in 2026. Former Rebels forward and Red Deer native Josh Tarzwell, a former teammate of Douglas, is headed to Scotland to play for the Glasgow Clan of the EIHL this season.]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/zeb-lindgren-signs-with-rebels Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:27:14 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/zeb-lindgren-signs-with-rebels RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels are excited to announce that Swedish defenceman Zeb Lindgren has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team. Lindgren was selected by the Rebels with the 24^th overall pick in round one of the 2026 CHL Import Draft. He was selected by the New York Rangers in round five of the 2025 NHL Draft. Lindgren hails from Umeå, Sweden and played last season for Skelleftea AIK in the country’s top U20 league. He was the team’s captain and had 19 points in 36 games, including six goals and 13 assists. Lindgren also appeared in two games in Sweden’s top professional league, the SHL. “He’s a real heady player, a smart player who was an NHL draft pick of the (New York) Rangers last year, so he fit what we were looking for,” said Rebels Owner, President and General Manager Brent Sutter. “He speaks good English and has leadership abilities as he was captain of his team in Sweden. That kind of character is nice.” The six-foot-one, 198-pound blue liner represented Sweden at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2025 World Junior A Challenge, winning medals at both events. Zeb Lindgren Defence Hometown: Umeå, Sweden Date of Birth: April 14, 2007 (Age 19) Height: 6’1 Weight: 198 Shoots: Left 2025-26 Team: Skellefteå AIK U20]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/danny-ramazanov-signs-with-rebels Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:28:55 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/danny-ramazanov-signs-with-rebels RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels are excited to announce that forward Danel (Danny) Ramazanov has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team. Ramazanov was selected by the Rebels in round one, 17^th overall at the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Originally from Kazakhstan, the Saskatoon, SK resident led the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) U15 Prep in scoring in 2025-26 with 26 goals and 58 points in 29 games. He racked up eight points in six games at the prestigious John Reid Memorial tournament. “He’s an exciting player with the ability to score highlight reel goals and make plays at very, very high speed. He makes everyone around him better and is very competitive for an average size guy,” said Jamie Novakoski, Rebels Director of Player Personnel. “We anticipate him to be a top six forward and score some big goals for us down the road.” Ramazanov will be at Rebels Training Camp this month and is slated to play U18 AAA this season with the Saskatoon Blazers. Danny Ramazanov Forward Shoots: Left Height: 5’9 Weight: 155 Birthdate: Jul 22, 2011 Hometown: Saskatoon, SK Last Team: Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 Prep Nationality: Kazakhstani]]> https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/kisio-thrilled-to-bring-coaching-career-home-to-red-deer Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:42:35 +0000 Troy Gillard https://chl.ca/whl-rebels/article/kisio-thrilled-to-bring-coaching-career-home-to-red-deer By DANNY RODE - The Kisio family has a history connected with Red Deer Rebels owner/president/General Manager Brent Sutter. The father, Kelly Kisio, was born in Wetaskiwin and played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Red Deer Rustlers, spending the 1977-78 season with Sutter. After his pro career, Kelly joined the Calgary Hitmen, spending 19 years as GM, head coach and president of hockey operations and a rival to Sutter. Brent Kisio joined his father as an assistant coach with the Hitmen in the 2007-08 season after spending four years with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The next 16 years Brent spent in the WHL – eight as an assistant coach with the Hitmen and eight as head coach with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Once again as Sutter’s rival. The two become very familiar with each other and it seemed a nice fit when the Rebels head coaching job opened up this year and Brent Kisio put in his application. Kisio spent the last three years as an assistant coach with the Henderson Silver Knights of the AHL. But he was looking for an opportunity to return home to Alberta. So, when Sutter offered him the job he was quick to accept. “I’m excited, really excited to be back where my family is,” said Kisio in a telephone interview from his current home in Lethbridge. “I have a daughter 16, and two boys aged 14 and 12 and I’m excited to be back home and be around the family at this time in their growth. “Red Deer is also home to me,” noted Kisio, who grew up in Calgary and spent a lot of time in Sylvan Lake. “It’s great to be back home as a head coach with an organization I always looked up to and battled against. Now it’s fun to be part of. “This is an opportunity to return home and be a head coach, be around my family and be part of a great organization. These opportunities don’t come around very often. You don’t get to coach back home. When you move away from home, move away from your family you appreciate the opportunity to be back home and be around them.” He appreciated his time in the Vegas Golden Knights organization the last three years. “Being in Henderson was an awesome experience after being in junior for so long,” he said. “You get the opportunity to see that next step towards the NHL. You see the guys who coached in junior try to take that step and realize it’s right there. It’s one injury, one phone call away. It taught me a lot from that standpoint in realizing how close it is if you push for it.” Brent Kisio was born in Davos, Switzerland when Kelly played one year in the Swiss League in 1982-83. Kelly returned and spent over a decade in the NHL, finishing his career with the Calgary Flames. Brent came up through the Calgary minor hockey system before joining the Olds Grizzlys of the AJHL in 1999, spending nearly three seasons there before finishing the 2001-02 season with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons. He finished his junior career with the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL in 2002-03. During his early days in the WHL, Brent was in the background watching the coaching battles between his dad and Brent Sutter. “It was always fun to see those two as friends battle each other,” he said. Brent Sutter indicated he had several strong applications for the head coaching position. “We had a number of awesome candidates,” he said. “It was a good process right to the end. “In Brent, he knows the league and he’s had success with not always great teams at times. But he took them above and beyond. “He looks to be a great fit for where our team is at today with all the young kids we have coming in. “He develops players and gets the most out of them. He communicates well but also holds them accountable but does it with respect. He’s a good fit.” Brent Kisio will spend a lot of the next month going back and forth between Lethbridge and Henderson and will move to Red Deer in August. He’s looking forward to meeting the players. “I’ve heard a lot about the young guys and the old guys,” he said. “We will have a lot of younger guys playing key roles and after talking with the coaches, Brent and the staff, I’m excited about that. “I’ll meet and learn more about the individuals and it’ll go from there. It will be about developing those players.” Brent did admit he will be learning after being away from the league for three years. “Three years doesn’t seem like much, but a lot has happened,” he said. “But I’m excited to see the changes and to see where everything is at and build from there. I know I’m excited to be part of a great organization and I’m lucky for that.”]]>