The 2024 National Hockey League Entry Draft has finally arrived.
After much anticipation, hockey fans will see their favourite junior hockey players drafted into the NHL on Friday and Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
If the NHL Central Scouting's final rankings are any indication, a few draft-eligible players from the Red Deer Rebels could hear their names called.
Since the Rebels joined the Western Hockey League in the 1992-93 season they've had 66 players selected at the draft and hope to make it more this weekend.
"It's an exciting time for those kids. Where they end up and where they go you never know. You're not sure what will happen through the draft so we'll just have to wait and see," said Rebels owner and general manager Brent Sutter.
Rebels forward Ollie Josephson is the team's top-ranked prospect ahead of the draft.
The 17-year-old from Victoria, B.C. was ranked 40th overall among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.
This past season with the Rebels he had career highs in goals (12), assists (35), and points (47), which helped him reach second in team scoring behind captain Kai Uchacz. He also added five points in nine playoff games.
As a rookie in the 2022-23 season, he contributed five goals and 14 assists for 19 points in 63 games. This summer he also represented Canada at the U18 World Championship where he notched three assists and helped bring home the gold medal.
Rebels rookie import forward Samuel Drancak could also potentially get drafted this weekend. He was ranked 187th by NHL Central Scouting after his first year in the WHL.
The Rebels selected him 54th overall last summer in the first round of the 2023 CHL Import Draft. The 18-year-old from Czechia showed plenty of offensive promise scoring 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 68 games with the Rebels.
He also represented his country at the U18 World Championship notching two points in five games.
Goaltender Chase Wutzke certainly increased his draft stock following his rookie season in Red Deer.
Heading into the 2023-24 WHL campaign, Wutzke was unranked but after a tremendous performance through the regular season and playoffs, he's considered one of the top goaltending prospects in North America.
In the NHL Central Scouting final rankings the 17-year-old from Debden, Sask. is ranked ninth among North American goaltenders.
At the beginning of last season, Wutzke was unsure of how much playing time he'd get if any at all. But after the Rebels traded Kyle Kelsey to the Tri-City Americans and Rhett Stoesser went down with an injury Wutzke became one of the most relied upon players on the roster.
He posted a 2.82 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in 36 games with a 19-10-2 record. He also recorded a 2.48 GAA and a .924 save percentage in seven playoff games.
"I'm assuming Wutzke will get taken," Sutter added. "He was one of the better goalies in the league this year, especially in the second half of the season. He also had a great middle of the season in November and December where he was goalie of the month in our league."