The Red Deer Rebels picked forward Matej Mikes of Czechia with the 19th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft Wednesday.
The six-foot-three centre played 28 games in the Finnish U20 league last year, recording four goals and six assists. He also played for Czechia at the World U18 Hockey Championship and had one assist in five games.
He was ranked the 71st overall international skater by NHL Central Scouting for the 2025 NHL Draft, but was not selected.
According to the Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Guide, the 18-year-old forward "flashes exciting offensive skill. He skates relatively decently for his size, has a surprisingly soft set of hands. At times, he flashed touch as a playmaker, too, and while he leans more into his soft skill, he occasionally sent opponents flying on the forecheck."
With the 80th pick, the Rebels selected defenceman Matus Lisy of Slovakia.
The six-foot, 181-pound blueliner played 19 games for Nitra in the Slovakian U20 league, as well as 27 games for Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga, the country's top pro league. In the U20 league, he had 28 points in 19 games and in the pros, he collected six points in 27 games. He also suited up for Slovakia at the World U18 Hockey Championship and had two assists in seven games.
The 18-year-old was ranked 73rd overall international skater by NHL Central Scouting for the 2025 NHL Draft, but was not selected.
According to the Elite Prospects 2025 NHL Draft Guide, "Lisy is a shoot-first defenceman with transition skills. Lisy also has an offensive flair to his game. He looks for opportunities to jump to the slot for scoring chances, but does most of his damage from the point through facilitating others by drawing in pressure first, also looking for rebounds and deflections through low releases."
The Rebels have also released Russian forward Gleb Semenov, who suited up for 25 games with the club in 2024-25.
