Red Deer Rebels forward Jhett Larson will continue his hockey career in the NCAA next season.
The 20-year-old Delisle, Sask. native has signed with the Alaska Nanooks, a Division I club, for the 2025-26 season, the Rebels announced on Thursday, Dec. 5.
"It's a great opportunity to keep playing at a high level," said Larson.
Standing at five-foot-nine and 176 pounds, Larson has played 238 Western Hockey League games, all with Red Deer, and has racked up 50 goals and 125 points. So far this season, he's tallied 11 points in 24 games. He has served as an alternate captain for the Rebels in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
"Jhett is a dynamic forward that possesses incredible character," Nanooks head coach Erik Largen said.
"He can play a 200-foot game an we are so excited to add him to our family."
Last month, the Canadian Hockey League announced players within the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League will be eligible to play men's Division I NCAA hockey starting in the 2025-26 season. Previously, CHL players had been considered professionals and barred because of the NCAA’s amateurism rules, in part because some CHL players have signed NHL entry-level contracts.
Larson is in his final year of major junior eligibility and becomes the first Red Deer Rebels player to commit to play NCAA Division I hockey since last month’s announcement.
"It's cool to be the first," said Larson.
"Obviously it was impossible before this year. The other two 20-year-olds this year (defencemen Jace Weir and Hunter Mayo) will probably find spots easily. I think they're great players. It's such a cool opportunity to be able to play the junior side and see what the college side looks like."
Larson said he's not thinking too far ahead and will continue to focus on the current season with the Rebels.
"We're starting to get things going right now — it's looking really good and that's exciting," said Larson.
"I've been so grateful for all the opportunity I've been given by the coaches I've had here, Brent Sutter and the whole organization. I think I've learned a lot — not just about hockey, but about being a human outside of the sport. I've made a lot of connections that will be lifelong."
