The Red Deer Rebels welcomed four players from the United States into the organization last week.
Two Americans were selected by Red Deer in the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft: centre Soren Saumweber from Roseville, Minnesota was taken in Round 6 and defenceman Ryan Overskei from Maple Grove, Minnesota was taken in Round 9.
The Rebels also selected a pair of players in the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft. Red Deer used the sixth-overall pick to select forward Eli Bimmerle, of Bartonville, Texas. Red Deer then selected Hermantown, Minnesota's Paxson Madill with the 42nd overall pick.
"These were four kids that we really liked and we identified early. We wanted all four of them and were lucky enough to get all four," said Chase Fuchs, American-based Rebels scout.
This past November, the Canadian Hockey League announced its players will be eligible to play men’s Division I NCAA ice hockey starting this upcoming season.
"As soon as the rule change happened, everyone's antennas went up and interest (to join the CHL) went through the roof," said Fuchs.
"That was the case with all four kids are coming to camp. But just in general, whether it was them or others, the interest in the Western League and the CHL as a whole is so high right now. I think everyone can see this is going to be the top junior league there is."
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.
A pair of Red Deer Rebels who have graduated from the WHL — Jhett Larson and Keaton Dowhaniuk — have are committed to joining the Alaska Nanooks, a Division I NCAA squad, this upcoming season.
The Rebels next chance to add more players will be the CHL Import Draft in July. This year, the draft will expand to three rounds for the first time, reflecting a new policy that allows CHL clubs to carry up to three import players on their rosters.
Jamie Novakoski, Rebels director of player personnel, said the club is already preparing for that draft, where Red Deer will be selecting 19th, 80th and 141st.
"That's an exciting time for us too," Novakoski said, adding it's too early to say if the Rebels will have three import players on the roster in the 2025-26 WHL season.
