2025 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Vlooswyk named WHL Rookie of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – Red Deer Rebels defenceman Luke Vlooswyk has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 2, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.
The 2025 NHL-Draft eligible blueliner led all first-year players with a goal and four assists in two games.
Vlooswyk played a critical role in Red Deer’s upset win against the powerhouse Calgary Hitmen on February 28. After getting the puck off a neutral-zone faceoff, Vlooswyk teed up Derek Thurston for a powerful shot and the game-tying goal. The Rebels would go on to edge the Hitmen in the shootout for a 2-1 final.
The following night, he erupted for his second career three-point game in a 10-2 drubbing of the Kelowna Rockets. Vlooswyk kicked off his night with an assist on the eventual game-winning goal. On a Rebels power play, he made a key play at the blue line to block an attempted clear before setting up a tic-tac-toe sequence which saw Jhett Larson bury the go-ahead goal. Vlooswyk tickled twine himself in the second period with a wicked wrister from the high slot on another man-advantage. The 18-year-old closed the match out with another helper on a Samuel Drancak tally.
Fist pump worthy! 💪 🔥#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/5LCFCeUfMH
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 2, 2025
The 6-foot-4.5, 201-pound blueliner is tied for second in scoring among Rebels blueliners with 16 points (3G-13A) in 58 games. His plus-11 rating also ranks second among all Red Deer skaters.
Red Deer selected Vlooswyk with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.
He made his WHL debut the following season and scored a goal and an assist in seven call-up appearances in 2023-2024.
NHL Central Scouting has listed Vlooswyk 109th among all North American Skaters in the agency’s midterm player rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Golf is in Luke Vlooswyk’s blood.
We hit the links with the @rdrebels d-man and his mom, eight-time Canadian Long Drive champion @lisalongball to talk about their bond through hockey and golf.
Huge thanks to @albertasprings for hosting us at their beautiful course! pic.twitter.com/IWOqOJon9L
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) September 27, 2024
Red Deer (23-28-5-2) is on a 2-0-1-0 point streak in the home stretch of the regular season.
The Rebels host the Brandon Wheat Kings (32-19-4-3) on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. MST.
2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
October 7, 2024: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
October 15, 2024: Josh Banini, Moose Jaw Warriors
October 21, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
October 28, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 4, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
November 11, 2024: Ondrej Stebetak, Portland Winterhawks
November 18, 2024: Kason Kobelka, Calgary Hitmen
November 25, 2024: Jordan Duguay, Portland Winterhawks
December 2, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 9, 2024: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 16, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
December 23, 2024: Parker Rondeau, Swift Current Broncos
December 30, 2024: Joe Iginla, Edmonton Oil Kings
January 6, 2025: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
January 13, 2025: Tommy Lafreniere, Kamloops Blazers
January 20, 2025: Ryan Lin, Vancouver Giants
January 27, 2025: Matej Pekar, Seattle Thunderbirds
February 3, 2025: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
February 10, 2025: Savin Virk, Tri-City Americans
February 18, 2025: Jordan Switzer, Medicine Hat Tigers
February 24, 2025: Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for close to 60 years. The WHL is also a leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.
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