Red Deer Rebels 2024 Bantam Draft Picks

In the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, the Red Deer Rebels strengthened their defense (which most people thought was the direction they would go with their first pick) by selecting Graeme Pickering from St. Adolphe, Manitoba, with the 15th overall pick in the first round. Pickering, a 15-year-old defenceman, expressed enthusiasm about joining the Rebels, having heard positive accounts about the organization. He discovered the news of his selection while en route to a Team Manitoba tryout, and his excitement was palpable.

During the past season, Pickering had a great season, scoring 36 points in 27 games for RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U15, ranking second among defencemen in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). He plans to continue his development at RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18 before attending his first Rebels training camp in September.

Hockey talent runs deep in Pickering’s family. His brother, Owen, serves as the team captain for the Swift Current Broncos and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022. His sister, Avery, played defense for Colgate University’s women’s hockey team and was the youngest player in the NCAA during her rookie year. Additionally, Pickering is a cousin of Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw Warriors captain, WHL Defenceman of the Year, and a 2022 draft pick for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite his young age, Pickering’s ultimate aspiration is to play in the National Hockey League. However, he remains focused on taking one step at a time and showcasing his abilities on the ice.

The Rebels executed a strategic trade with Victoria, elevating their position from 37th to 30th in order to secure Cash Arcand-Vandale. In exchange, they relinquished the 77th overall pick to Victoria. Arcand-Vandale, hailing from Saskatoon, showcased a remarkable performance with the Saskatoon Bandits U15AA team, amassing 30 goals and 27 assists across 27 games. His playoff contribution was equally impressive, with six goals and six assists in just three games. Sutter elucidated the rationale behind the trade, stating, “Given the draft’s progression and our high regard for a particular forward, following the selection of a defenseman, we opted for an assertive approach to secure him.” Sutter further elaborated on Arcand-Vandale’s potential, describing him as a “late first-round pick” with a “long frame and excellent tools.” He highlighted the young player’s versatility, having played various positions and excelled as an underage player on a comparatively weaker team. Sutter concluded, “We believe Cash possesses immense potential and a high ceiling, which is why we made the move to acquire him. It’s akin to having two first-round picks.”

The team was lacking their third-round pick, but they saw potential in Forrest Karlson, who they chose as the 98th overall in the fifth round, believing he could have been a third-round selection. Sutter expressed his thoughts, saying, “If we had a third-round pick, we would have selected him.” Hailing from Dauphin, MB, Karlson played for the Pilot Mound Hockey Academy, where he managed to score 18 goals and 24 assists in 27 games. Sutter further highlighted Karlson’s qualities, stating, “Forrest possesses good size (six-foot, 170-pounds) and moves well. Despite playing on a weak team this year, which may have contributed to his slip, he was one of the top players in Manitoba for us. A big center, he showcases skill and hardness to his game. He’s a two-way player, an all-round forward capable of bringing offense… an under-the-radar type of player.” Sutter remains optimistic about all the team’s choices, believing they have a chance to make it to the league someday.

“He played on a really talented Edge team with a lot of good forwards. He has good finish, a precision shooter with focus, good instincts on both offence and defence. Good lineage as his brother players for Everett.”

“A real hard worker who skates well and has good energy and tenacity in that he’s always in the middle of things. Potential to be a top 9 forward who can kill penalties. Also has good lineage with his father the goalie coach with the Edmonton Oilers (and former Rebels netminder Dustin Schwartz).”

“He has immense potential, and we anticipate him playing U18 in Warman next year, setting him apart from his peers as one of the few goalies in his age group to reach that level. Our preference for goalies is to aim high, especially when selecting late, so we’re confident in our choice.”

“He was part of an exceptional line at his age group, alongside Maddox Schultz, who has the potential to be a top pick next year, and Chase Surkan, selected as Brandon’s first-round pick this year. Serving as the right wing on that line, he often went unnoticed. However, he exhibits strong hockey sense and a knack for generating offense. We’re optimistic that he may be an overlooked gem.”

He has good tools and a good body and frame, Will be a tall has some puck moving ability who just needs to keep improving

“A towering presence on the field, he possesses remarkable natural ability. However, his performance has been somewhat inconsistent, with moments of brilliance interspersed with areas needing improvement. He has a high ceiling and is something of a wild card player. Once he gains a better understanding of the game, he has the potential to make a significant impact on the field.”

“Declan was overshadowed on a deep Edge team. When had the opportunity to play with better players we saw some good hockey sense and skill. In late rounds you try to find some diamonds in the rough, so we decided to roll the dice.”

I found most of the info on the Rebels site for the prospects. LINK. Lord knows how these guys will turn out they are all very young. I basically root now for the kids with the coolest sounding names for now until I see them play. I would love one day to own a Forrest Karlson jersey.