ALBERTA HOCKEY HALL OF FAME CALLS THE CLASS OF 2024

Six individuals and one team set to enter the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.

RED DEER – Six individuals and a Memorial Cup championship team are being called to the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame (AHHF) as the Class of 2024.

The members of this year’s class are:

• BILLY DEA – 19-year pro hockey career, along with several years coaching in the NHL. He had two playing stints in the NHL, sandwiched around nine years in the American Hockey League with the Buffalo Bisons, where he set a longevity record by playing 596 straight games. He is a member of the AHL Hall of Fame.

• JAROME IGINLA – 20 seasons in the National Hockey League, including 16 with the Calgary Flames. He is the all-time leader for the Calgary Flames in games played (1,219), goals (525) and points (1,095). He is also a multi-time gold medalist with Team Canada, a two-time Memorial Cup champion, and an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

• DAVE KING – Coach and mentor for over 40 years and one of hockey’s finest tacticians and teachers of the game. He has coached at every level of hockey around the world, including major junior, Canadian university, Canada’s national team, the National Hockey League, and European and Russian pro leagues. He is a two-time medalist at the Winter Olympics.

• KELLY KISIO – 761 games in the National Hockey League and captain of the New York Rangers for more than three years. He helped turn the Calgary Hitmen into one of the most successful franchises in the Western Hockey League (including two WHL championships), as coach and general manager. Currently a scout with the Vegas Golden Knights, 2023 Stanley Cup champions.

• CRAIG MACTAVISH – Four-time Stanley Cup champion during a 17-year playing career in the National Hockey League. Craig also served as an executive, coach and assistant coach in the NHL, coached Team Canada internationally, and coached internationally n Russia and Switzerland. Craig was the last NHL player not to wear a helmet during games.

• SHANNON SZABADOS – Trailblazer for female hockey players, one of Canada’s top goaltenders, and the IIHF’s Goaltender of the Decade (2010-20). She is the only goaltender in women’s hockey history to backstop her nation to two gold medals at the Winter Olympics; the first and only female to record a shutout in men’s pro hockey; and the first female to play in the WHL and the Southern Professional Hockey League.

• RED DEER REBELS, 2000-01 – The 2001 Memorial Cup champions, defeating Val-d’Or in a come-from-behind overtime victory in Regina. The Rebels had a dominating season, leading the Canadian Hockey League with a 54-12-3-3 regular season. They advanced to the Memorial Cup by defeating Lethbridge, Calgary, Swift Current and Portland in the WHL playoffs.

Hockey Alberta hosted the announcement on Tuesday morning at the Gary W. Harris Centre at Red Deer Polytechnic. It was also announced that the AHHF Induction Gala is returning to Red Deer and is being hosted at the Gary W. Harris Centre on Saturday, July 20.

Tickets for the AHHF Induction Gala are available to purchase on ahhf.ca.

Photo courtesy 0f the Red Deer Rebels / Taylor Lachance

REBELS THIS WEEK

REBELS RECAP

The Rebels were once again perfect last week, going 2-0 to run their winning streak to 9 games – the longest in the WHL this season.

The club has also climbed into third place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors.

SAT. JAN. 27 – The Rebels held off a third period charge by the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings for a 5-3 win at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Kai Uchacz scored the game winner and added an empty net insurance tally to surpass 50 points on the season. Jhett Larson had a goal and an assist. Evan Smith and Carson Birnie also scored for the Rebels and Mats Lindgren had a pair of assists. Chase Wutzke made several key saves once again as he won his eighth-straight start.

FRI. JAN 26 – The Rebels exploded for six goals in the second period on their way to a 6-3 win over the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Hunter Mayo scored twice and Matteo Fabrizi and Mats Lindgren once each as the Rebels got four of their six goals on the night from defencemen. Kalan Lind and Frantisek Formanek also scored for Red Deer. Kai Uchacz had three assists.

UPCOMING GAMES

The Rebels head east this week for a trip that will see the club play five games in seven days.

Jan. 31 at Prince Albert 6 p.m. MT

Feb. 2 at Brandon 6 p.m. MT

Feb. 3 at Moose Jaw 6 p.m. MT

Feb. 4 at Regina 3 p.m. MT

Feb. 6 at Swift Current 6 p.m. MT

(all games broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND Radio and CHL TV)

The next Rebels home game comes up on Friday, February 9th when they host the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Tickets for all Rebels home games are available at ticketsalberta.com.

80’S/NICKELODEON NIGHT

RE/MAX Presents: Nickelodeon Nights for Children’s Miracle Network is a charitable initiative driven by RE/MAX in partnership with Paramount Global, the parent company of global kids and family brand Nickelodeon. The 2022-23 edition saw nearly $160,000 raised in support of Children’s Hospital Foundations across Western Canada. The Rebels will be taking part when the host the Moose Jaw
Warriors on Friday, February 9th at 7 p.m. Stay tuned to Rebels social media in the days leading up to the game to see what Nickelodeon-themed special jerseys the club will be wearing that night.

SOCKEY DAY IN RED DEER

When the Rebels host the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a Family Day Matinee on Monday, February 19th at 2 p.m. it will once again be Sockey Day in Red Deer in support of United Way Central Alberta. Fans attending the game will receive a pair of socks, provided by generous community partners, or bring their own to toss on the ice during the game. These socks will be gathered by volunteers and distributed through various agencies to people in need throughout central Alberta. More details at caunitedway.ca.