The Red Deer Rebels added "size and meanness" to their defence at the 2025 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft.
The club kicked off the draft by selecting six-foot-three, 181-pound defenceman Nolan Wolitski in the first round, seventh overall. The Rebels then drafted three more defenders, none of whom are under five-foot-11.
Jamie Novakoski, director of player personnel, said the club wanted to add defencemen with size who play with physicality, while also possessing the ability to "move pucks, and get around the ice and play some valuable minutes in the future for the Red Deer Rebels."
The other defencemen drafted by Red Deer were Owen Archer, Denys Lupandin and Ryan Overskei.
Archer, selected in the second round, 32nd overall, is listed at six-foot-two and 189 pounds. He had three goals, 19 assists and 68 penalty minutes with the U15 AAA St. Albert Sabres this past season. He also added four goals and seven assists in nine playoff games.
"He's a big kid that gets around the ice fine, moves the puck fine, has got good hockey sense and has some nastiness to his game," said Novakoski.
Lupandin, selected in the fifth round, 99th overall, is listed at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. He is originally from Ukraine, but has been living in Saskatchewan for the past three years.
Overskei was one of the biggest players selected in the draft. The Minnesota native stands at six-foot-six and 187 pounds, and was selected in the ninth round, 191st overall.
But this year's draft wasn't just about six and defence for the Rebels. The club also focused on improving its forward prospect pool, Novakoski added.
"We added some smaller skilled guys with the potential to grow and also some two-way centremen who play the game the right way and can be meaningful role players at this level — important guys you need in the playoffs to be successful," he said.
Red Deer selected Chace Turchak 30th overall, with its first of two second-round draft choices. The Calgary native had 52 points in 32 games with the U15 AAA Calgary Bisons in the Alberta Elite Hockey League this past season.
"His game just got better and better every time we saw him," Novakoski said.
"He's so strong on the forecheck, finishes all his checks and he's got great hockey sense. He causes a lot of turnovers and creates chances for his linemates. We're very excited to have him."
The team also selected Dylan Russell in the fourth round, 76th overall; Sawyer Holmes in the fifth round, 106th overall; Soren Saumweber in the sixth round, 122nd overall; Bronx Becker in the eighth round, 168th overall; and Andrew Norstrom in the 10th round, 214th overall.
Red Deer drafted goaltender Chase Nielson in the third round, 56th overall. Novakoski said Rebels goalie coach Ian Gordon identified Nielson as "a top goalie" in this year's draft.
"It's an early pick to take a goalie. But we have confidence that (Gordon) can turn (Nielson) into a very good starting goalie in our league. (Gordon) has had success and really knows his goaltenders. He was so excited to have this kid in Round 3. I think that says a lot," said Novakoski.
Nielson played in 24 games with the U15 AAA Lethbridge Golden Hawks this past season, recording a .923 save percentage and a 3.67 goals-against average.
The Rebels also selected a pair of players in the 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft on Thursday, May 8.
With the sixth overall pick in Round 1, the Rebels selected forward Eli Bimmerle from Bartonville, Texas. Bimmerle played the 2024-25 season with Dallas Stars Elite 14U AAA and collected 50 goals and 44 assists in 59 games.
With the 42nd overall pick in Round 2, the Rebels selected forward Paxson Madill from Hermantown, Minnesota. Madill played 2024-25 with the MN Voyageurs 14U AAA squad and had 12 goals and 14 assists in 17 games.
