Red Deer Rebels
Rebels at home for 3 this week! Rare visits by Spokane and Tri-City
From the Red Deer Rebels
REBELS THIS WEEK
REBELS RECAP
The Rebels have kicked off a busy January that will see them play eight of their 11 games this month at home.
FRI. JAN. 5 – Jhett Larson netted his second career hat trick to lead the Rebels to a 5-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Carson Birnie scored twice for the Rebels. Talon Brigley had two assists while Ollie Josephson had one to run his point streak to five games. Rhett Stoesser earned his 10th win of the season. Red Deer outshot Medicine Hat 34-24 and was 1-for-1 on the power play while the Tigers were 1-for-3.
TUE. JAN. 2 – Medicine Hat scored with seven seconds left in overtime for a 3-2 win over the Rebels at Co-op Place. Matthew Gard and Hunter Mayo (power play) scored for Red Deer. Ollie Josephson had an assist to run his point streak to four games. Chase Wutzke was credited with 27 saves. Red Deer was 1-for-3 on the power play while Medicine Hat was 2-for-3.
UPCOMING GAMES
A pair of U.S. Division teams visit the Peavey Mart Centrium this week for the first time in nearly four years. Wednesday night (January 10) the Spokane Chiefs are in town followed by the Tri-City Americans on Friday (January 12). Then on Saturday, January 13, the Edmonton Oil Kings are back in town. Tickets for all Rebels home games are available through Tickets Alberta. All games this week start at 7 p.m. MT and are broadcast exclusively on 106.7 REWIND Radio and CHL TV.
CHASE-ING EXCELLENCE
Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke has been named WHL Goaltender of the Month for December and the Rebels Mitchell and Jewel Player of the Month Award for December. Wutzke, 17, went 5-0-0-1 with a 1.66 goals-against average and .941 save percentage, helping the Rebels win seven of 12 games and push their way up the WHL’s Eastern Conference standings during the month of December. A product of Debden, Sask., Wutzke was named WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Week on Monday, December 11, and is the third Rebels puck stopper earn the honour this season, joining Rhett Stoesser and Kyle Kelsey (now with Tri-City).
COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
Rookie forward Jeramiah Roberts has been a solid addition to the Rebels lineup since returning from a 22-game absence due to a concussion. The Colorado Springs, Colorado native scored a highlight reel goal for his first WHL tally Dec. 27 versus Medicine Hat. He picked up his first career assist versus the Tigers on January 2. Roberts, selected 14th overall by the Rebels in round one of the 2022 U.S. Priority Draft, won the Rebels TELUS Scholastic Player of the Month Award for the month of December.
UCHACZ A TOP 10 HIT
In his third season with the club, Kai Uchacz is now one of the top ten leading goal scorers in Rebels franchise history.
Player GP Goals Seasons
Arron Asham 266 131 1994-1998
Justin Mapletoft 281 115 1996-2001
B.J. Young 151 112 1994-1997
Brandon Hagel 259 103 2015-2019
Ben King 165 97 2019-2023
Greg Schmidt 194 94 1994-1997
Shawn McNeil 144 91 1997-1999
Jon Zukiwsky 301 87 1993-1998
Kai Uchacz 156 86 2021-2024
Craig Reichert 138 84 1992-1994
GERRY, GERRY, GERRY
Gerry Paquette was honoured prior to the January 5 Rebels game versus Medicine Hat for over 30 years of volunteering as on off-ice official. Gerry was presented with a custom Bulova watch courtesy of Mitchell and Jewell.
Education
Rebels earn Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy as WHL Scholastic Team of the Year
News release from the Red Deer Rebels
It’s a great accomplishment for the Red Deer Rebels as the club is the Western Hockey League’s Scholastic Team of the Year.
The Rebels were announced Tuesday as the 2023-24 winner of the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL member Club that achieves the highest overall academic performance during the regular season.
“On behalf of the Red Deer Rebels, I’d like to thank the league for being selected for the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy. We take great pride in working with our players to be the best they can be,” says Teresa Jaeger, Rebels Education Advisor.
“I’d like to thank the players for all the hard work and commitment they put into getting their assignments done and getting the best grades. I’d also like to thank the teachers at Notre Dame and Athabasca University for helping the team.”
The Rebels had nine players attending École Secondaire Notre Dame High School in Red Deer during the season, while other players did online programming through Athabasca University.
The combined average for all Rebels high school players this season is 88%.
The Rebels have taken a collaborative approach to working with players to achieve academic success. Jaeger, Rebels Hockey Operations Manager Arie Postmus, and Notre Dame Vice Principal Curtis Lansing, work hand in hand to continually monitor how players are progressing. Daily liaisons with players provide the structure and support necessary to getting the most from the time available to learning.
Students not enrolled at Notre Dame are monitored in their progress by the Education Advisor having contact with their teachers and home school administrators.
“It is fantastic to see our players rewarded for the effort they put into their schoolwork. The dedication they showed to balance on ice performance and off ice performance in the classroom is very rewarding” said Postmus.
“I am very happy for them all. Teresa also deserves a ton of credit for the countless hours she gives to head our education program and support these players to ensure they graduate with stellar marks.”
The WHL Scholastic Team of the Year Award is named in honour of Jim Donlevy, long-time WHL Director, Education Services, who passed away in August 2019 following a courageous battle with cancer. This marks the fourth presentation of the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy to a WHL Club since its dedication.
Donlevy was instrumental in the creation and continued success of the WHL Scholarship program – the largest privately-funded amateur sports scholarship program in Canada, and one of the most comprehensive education programs for hockey in the world today. Since the establishment of the WHL Scholarship in 1993-94, nearly 8,000 scholarships have been accessed, totaling an investment of over $35 million by WHL Clubs.
“This award win is a great achievement that celebrates all the hard work by our players and staff. The Rebels place great importance in ensuring our players are focused on their academics during the season, and we take pride in their success.” says Rebels Owner, President, and General Manager Brent Sutter.
“Congratulations to the players, Teresa and Arie for this well-deserved honour, and thank you to our partner schools for all your help.”
The Rebels are just the third Alberta-based team, and first since the Calgary Hitmen in 2013-14, to win the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy/WHL Scholastic Team of the Year Award since 2000.
News release from the Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League announced today the Red Deer Rebels have been awarded the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy as the WHL Scholastic Team of the Year for the 2023-24 season.
The WHL Scholastic Team of the Year Award was renamed in honour of Jim Donlevy, longtime WHL Director, Education Services, who passed away in August 2019 following a courageous battle with cancer. This marks the fourth occasion on which the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy will be presented to a WHL Club since its dedication.
“On behalf of the Red Deer Rebels, I’d like to thank the league in being selected for the Jim Donlevy Scholastic Team,” said Teresa Jaeger, Education Advisor for the Red Deer Rebels. “We take great pride in education here and working with our players to be the best that they can be.
“I’d like to thank the players for their hard work and all their commitment they put into getting the best grades and getting their assignments done. I’d also like to thank the teachers at Notre Dame and Athabasca University for helping the team.”
With nine players attending high school, the Rebels combined high-school average for the 2023-24 academic season was 88 per cent. A hardworking group, the Rebels’ high-school aged players put pride in achieving in the classroom, going the extra mile in order to have success.
“On behalf of my family, I am honoured to present the winner of the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy, presented to the WHL Scholastic Team of the Year,” said Lisa Stollery, daughter of Jim Donlevy. “A huge congratulations to the Red Deer Rebels – their extremely hardworking student-athletes, their teachers who help these young men to excel in their academics, their Education Advisor Teresa Jaeger, the Rebels coaches and management team, and the families that support and love them. They are extremely hardworking students.”
As an organization, the Rebels have taken a collaborative approach to working with players to ensure academic success. Jaeger works closely with Hockey Operations staff and leadership from Red Deer’s Notre Dame High School to continually monitor how players are progressing. By having daily sessions, players are provided with the structure and support required to get the most from the learning time available to them.
While on the road, Hockey Operations staff provide leadership and support to keep players on academic track during road trips. Times are designated for players to focus on coursework and they have the opportunity to connect with teachers and Jaeger through Zoom, text, email and Google Meets.
The Rebels insistence on a regular and productive academic routine, combined with support and supervision, has created an environment that fosters academic success.
This is the first occasion in which the Red Deer Rebels have been named the WHL Scholastic Team of the Year.
Winners of the Jim Donlevy Memorial Trophy (since 2004)
2023-24: Red Deer Rebels
2022-23: Portland Winterhawks
2021-22: Brandon Wheat Kings
2020-21: Not presented due to COVID-19
2019-20: Kamloops Blazers
2018-19: Portland Winterhawks
2017-18: Saskatoon Blades
2016-17: Victoria Royals
2015-16: Spokane Chiefs
2014-15: Kamloops Blazers
2013-14: Calgary Hitmen
2012-13: Portland Winterhawks
2011-12: Edmonton Oil Kings
2010-11: Swift Current Broncos
2009-10: Tri-City Americans
2008-09: Prince Albert Raiders
2007-08: Chilliwack Bruins
2006-07: Kamloops Blazers
2005-06: Kootenay ICE
2004-05: Vancouver Giants
2003-04: Portland Winter Hawks
Alberta
Red Deer Rebels Memorial Cup Team to join Iginla, MacTavish, King and Kisio in the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame
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.
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