Three Red Deer Rebels prospects will be on their way to Calgary next month after they were invited to Canada’s National Inder-17 Development camp.
From July 10-16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, forward Ollie Josephson, defenceman Keith McInnis, and goaltender Chase Wutzke were three of 100 players invited to the camp by Hockey Canada.
Josephson was selected by the Rebels fifth overall in the 2021 Western Hockey League (WHL) Prospects Draft. The prospect has already made his debut for Red Deer in December 2021 just days after signing with the Rebels. Josephson also played in six regular season games and one playoff game in the 2021-22 season. The Victoria, B.C. native was also named a BCEHL U18AAA all-star for his play with the South Island Royals scoring 53 points in 28 games. In addition, he helped Team BC capture a gold medal at the 2021 WHL Cup in Red Deer.
McInnis, who is from Red Deer was picked by the Rebels 91st overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. He played the last two seasons with the Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep and is a former Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA star. He also helped Team Alberta win silver at the 2021 WHL Cup. McInnis is expected to play for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL next season.
As the 40th overall selection in the second round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Wutzke signed with the Rebels on Dec. 16 in 2021. He made his Rebels debut Dec. 27 in Saskatoon where he won his first game. Wutzke, who is from Debden, Sask. played U18 AAA for the Saskatoon contacts.
Forward Caleb Hadland from Sylvan Lake was also invited. The five-foot 10-inch 165-pound Brandon Wheat Kings prospect was selected 22nd overall in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. During the 2021-22 season with the Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep he scored 17 goals for 42 points in 35 games played.
Only 66 players will be named to one of three Canadian teams to play in the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The three teams will be Team Canada Black, Team Canada Red, and Team Canada White. Hockey Canada will trim the 100 players down to 66 by evaluating them through the start of the 2022-23 season.
The tournament is scheduled to happen Nov. 5 to 12 in Langley and Delta, B.C.