The Red Deer Rebels have made another effort to get younger ahead of the WHL trade deadline, this time trading veteran forward Carson Birnie to the Calgary Hitmen.
Red Deer traded 19-year-old Matteo Fabrizi earlier this week before sending Birnie south down Highway 2 to the Hitmen. The return for Red Deer included 17-year-old forward Parker MacDougall, 16-year-old forward prospect Ethan Dundas, a fifth round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, and a third round in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft – originally belonging to Swift Current.
MacDougall was selected by Calgary in round five, 99th overall at the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. The Victoria, BC native currently plays for the U18 AAA Fraser Valley Thunderbirds and has 42 points in 19 games (17 goals, 25 assists).
Dundas was selected by Calgary in round seven, 133rd overall at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft. This season with his hometown U18 AAA Regina Pat Canadians, Dundas has 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 25 games.
Birnie was in his third season with the Rebels after being selected by the club in round eight, 160th overall at the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.
In 150 career games with the club, Birnie had 31 goals and 29 assists for 60 points, including nine goals and 10 assists in 35 games this season. He also appeared in 21 playoff games collecting eight points (four goals, four assists).
The Hitmen were busy on the weekend, also picking up Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
In return, the Seattle received Sawyer Mayes, Linden Burrett and four WHL draft picks that includes first round selections in 2025 and 2026.
The WHL trade deadline is set for Jan. 9.
Rebels lose sixth straight, drop OT heartbreaker to Regina Pats
The Rebels fell behind early Saturday night at the Pevey Mart Centrium and fought to earn a lone point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Regina Pats.
In front of 4,092 fans, Red Deer fell behind 2-0 just 9:06 into the contest. Red Deer's Ephram McNutt scored to make it 2-0 for the Pats at 9:06 of the first, his third goal of the season.
Matthew Gard notched his ninth of the year 4:19 into the second to cut the deficit, before defenceman Derek Thurston tied the game 6:23 into the third.
With six minutes left in the game, Cohen Klassen scored his first career WHL goal on the power play, to open up a 3-2 lead for the Pats.
Only 80 seconds later, Trae Wilkie capitalized for the Rebels to tie the game, his seventh goal of the year.
In overtime, Braxton Whitehead scored the winner for the Pats.
Kelton Pyne stopped 29 shots to earn the win for the Pats.
Peyton Shore lasted just 12:35 for the Rebels and allowed two goals on 10 shots. Chase Wutzke turned aside 24 of 26 shots the rest of the way.
The Rebels are 15-18-2-2 on the year and sit ninth in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the Central Divison.
Red Deer will host the Saskatoon Blades on Tuesday, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
