Red Deer Rebels


The Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
A "Name the Team" contest ran in Red Deer from October 7 to 17, 1991. The top three ideas from the over 1000 entries were "Rebels", "Renegades", and "Centurions". Rebels management chose the name "Rebels". On February 5, 1992, the Rebels selected Mike McBain as their first player in the Bantam Draft. The Rebels' first game was on September 25, 1992 in Red Deer against the Prince Albert Raiders. The original owner of the team was Terry Simpson, the original General Manager was Wayne Simpson and the original Coach was Peter Anholt. The Rebels had their first sell-out game at the Centrium on January 9, 1993.
Goalie Jason Clague was credited with a goal on March 28, 1994 during a playoff game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. David Hruska scored 5 goals in one game on October 20, 1995 in a game against the Medicine Hat Tigers. BJ Young set a team record for fastest goal at the start of a game at 0:06 of the first period on December 6, 1995, against the Medicine Hat Tigers. On May 28, 1997, the Rebels changed their logo to the current one used. On May 11, 1999, Brent Sutter purchased the team from Terry and Wayne Simpson.
The Rebels were a very successful team in the early 2000s winning three consecutive division and conference titles between 2000–01 and 2002–03. This period began with a WHL and Memorial Cup championship in 2001 when Jeff Smith scored the overtime winner against the Val-d'Or Foreurs. The Rebels were unable to duplicate this feat, however, falling in the league championship series the next two seasons.
President and owner Brent Sutter was also highly successful while serving as Team Canada's coach at both the 2005 and 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships. His older brother, Brian, took over the reins of the team for the 2007-08 season. Brent Sutter was named as the new head coach on November 14, 2012.
The Rebels had the first overall pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, choosing Burnaby, British Columbia native Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who was also selected number one overall at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Other notable first round draft picks include Cam Ward, Dion Phaneuf, Mathew Dumba and Jesse Wallin.
The Rebels were the host team of the 2016 Memorial Cup tournament.

Championships

WHL finals

Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPointsStandingPlayoffsHead coachAssistant coachGeneral manager
1992–937231392-284329646th EastLost in first roundPeter AnholtRick Pankiw, Mike MollerWayne Simpson
1993–947235361-310334716th EastLost in first roundPeter AnholtMike MollerWayne Simpson
1994–957217514-209356389th EastOut of playoffsPeter AnholtMike MollerWayne Simpson
1995–967228395-263300614th CentralLost East Conference semi-finalRick CarriereJim HammettWayne Simpson
1996–977243263-317297892nd CentralLost East Conference finalRick CarriereDoug HobsonWayne Simpson
1997–987227405-281323593rd CentralLost East Conference quarter-finalRick Carriere, Doug HobsonDoug Hobson, Kurt LacktonWayne Simpson
1998–997234335-274250732nd CentralLost East Conference semi-finalTerry SimpsonPeter AnholtWayne Simpson
1999–0072323190227229733rd CentralLost East Conference quarter-finalBrent SutterPeter Anholt, Dallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2000–01725412333041681141st CentralWon Championship & Memorial CupBrent SutterDan McDonald, Dallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2001–02724618712641841001st CentralLost finalBrent SutterDallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2002–03725017322711601051st CentralLost finalBrent SutterDallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2003–04723522105167169852nd CentralLost Eastern Conference finalBrent SutterDallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2004–0572362664206200824th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-finalBrent SutterDallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2005–0672264015166220585th CentralOut of playoffsBrent SutterJesse Wallin, Dallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2006–0772352845206214794th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-finalBrent SutterJesse Wallin, Dallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2007–0872184743145255436th CentralOut of playoffsBrian SutterJesse Wallin, Dallas GaumeBrent Sutter
2008–0972253719172250606th CentralOut of playoffsJesse WallinDallas Gaume, Bryce Thoma
2009–1072392805202222834th CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-finalJesse WallinDallas Gaume, Bryce Thoma
2010–11724816442681591041st CentralLost Eastern Conference semi-finalJesse Wallin--
2011–1272323415204231705th CentralOut of playoffsJesse Wallin--
2012–1372392652208204853rd CentralLost Eastern Conference semi-finalJesse Wallin, Brent SutterBryce Thoma
2013–1472353214214224755th CentralLost eighth place tiebreaker vs Prince Albert
Out of Playoffs		Brent SutterSteve O'Rourke, Jeff TruittTaylor Dakers
2014–1572382356240227873rd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-finalBrent SutterSteve O'Rourke, Jeff TruittTaylor Dakers
2015–1672452412260205932nd CentralLost Eastern Conference final
Qualified for Memorial Cup as hosts
Lost Semi-Final		Brent SutterSteve O'Rourke, Jeff Truitt
2016–1772302994239258733rd CentralLost Eastern Conference quarter-finalBrent SutterSteve O'Rourke, Jeff Truitt
2017–18722732103209250673rd CentralLost Eastern Conference Quarter-finalBrent SutterSteve O'Rourke, Jeff Truitt
2018–1968332942223225725th CentralLost Eastern Conference Quarter-finalBrent SutterSteve O'Rourke, Jeff Truitt
2019–2063243333181250545th CentralCancelledBrent SutterRyan Colville, Brad Flynn

Team captains

Updated June 24, 2020.

NHL alumni

  • Colby Armstrong
  • Arron Asham
  • Ryan Bonni
  • Mike Brown
  • Jake DeBrusk
  • Mathew Dumba
  • Matt Ellison
  • Turner Elson
  • Martin Erat
  • Landon Ferraro
  • Haydn Fleury
  • Colin Fraser
  • Matt Fraser
  • Byron Froese
  • Michael Garnett
  • Carsen Germyn
  • Boyd Gordon
  • Martin Hanzal
  • Jay Henderson
  • Blair Jones
  • Matt Keith
  • Darcy Kuemper
  • Peter Leboutillier
  • Brad Leeb
  • Brian Loney
  • Ross Lupaschuk
  • Doug Lynch
  • Steve MacIntyre
  • Justin Mapletoft
  • Masi Marjamaki
  • Mike McBain
  • Derek Meech
  • Vladimir Mihalik
  • Nelson Nogier
  • Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
  • Stephen Peat
  • John Persson
  • Alex Petrovic
  • Dion Phaneuf
  • Craig Reichert
  • James Reimer
  • Terry Ryan
  • Robert Schnabel
  • Sean Selmser
  • Shay Stephenson
  • Brandon Sutter
  • Brett Sutter
  • Jim Vandermeer
  • Pete Vandermeer
  • Darren Van Impe
  • Kris Versteeg
  • Jesse Wallin
  • Kyle Wanvig
  • Cam Ward
  • Lance Ward
  • Roman Wick
  • Jeff Woywitka
  • Mikhail Yakubov
  • B. J. Young

    WHL awards

  • 2001 - Shane Bendera
WHL Plus-Minus Award
  • 2000/01 - Jim Vandermeer
St. Clair Group Trophy
Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy
  • 1996/97 - Jesse Wallin
  • 1997/98 - Jesse Wallin
  • 2000/01 - Jim Vandermeer
  • 2004/05 - Colin Fraser
Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy
  • 2000/01 - Red Deer Rebels
  • 2001/02 - Red Deer Rebels
Lloyd Saunders Memorial Trophy
  • 2000/01 - Brent Sutter
Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy
  • 2000/01 - Brent Sutter
Del Wilson Trophy
Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy
  • 2002/03 - Matt Ellison
  • 2009/10 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
  • 2010/11 - Mathew Dumba
Bill Hunter Trophy
Brad Hornung Trophy
Bob Clarke Trophy
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
  • 2000/01 - Justin Mapletoft
  • 2003/04 - Cam Ward
  • 2010/11 - Darcy Kuemper

    CHL awards

  • 1996/97 - Jesse Wallin
  • 2000/01 - Jim Vandermeer
  • 2004/05 - Colin Fraser
CHL Goaltender of the Year
  • 2003/04 - Cam Ward
  • 2010/11 - Darcy Kuemper
  • 2012/13 - Patrik Bartosak
CHL Rookie of the Year
  • 2002/03 - Matt Ellison
CHL Top Draft Prospect Award
  • 2010/11 - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award
  • 2000/01 - Brent Sutter
Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy Memorial Cup MVP
Memorial Cup
  • 2000/01 - Red Deer Rebels