-Red Deer, AB
Thursday was the beginning of the dream for the 2003 age group. The Red Deer Rebels held selections number seven and 16 in the first round of today’s WHL Bantam Draft and with it they chose the best players available to them.
With the seventh overall selection Red Deer drafted Jayden Grubbe out of the Calgary Bisons Bantam AAA program. Grubbe plays Forward and shoots right. He was named captain of the Bisons this year and put up 29 goals and 37 assists in 35 games. The Bisons finished the season with a 29-3-4 record.
“Jayden is a big guy, a big strong kid who can really skate,” said Assistant General Manager Shaun Sutter following the first round. “He’s got good skill, he can make plays and he can score. And he’s a guy who always has a presence on the ice, a guy that people are afraid of because he’ll run you through the glass. He’s a physical presence out there. There’s not a lot of guys with his skill set, his physicality, his presence or his edge, so he’s definitely a unique player and one who is hard to find.”
Draft Geek had this to add about the type of player Grubbe is and what he will bring to the Rebels “The AMBHL South’s MVP and leading scorer Jayden Grubbe was the driving force for the Calgary Bisons during the 2017-2018 season. Grubbe plays with something to prove, physically and offensively dominating opponents shift to shift. He’s a heavy forward who plays a balanced power forward style of game. Grubbe is relentless while pursuing the puck, tracking guys down and creating turnovers. He possesses separation speed and acceleration not commonly found in forwards his size, and possesses the vision and puck control to attack defenders one on one down the middle of the ice. Battles well for the puck and can be effective in the cycle as he makes quick decisions moving the puck. Heavy and accurate shot with a deceptive release, really makes him dangerous with the puck anywhere in the offensive zone. His hockey sense is through the roof, able to read the neutral zone very well and exploit weak defensive holes. Similar style of game as Jake Virtanen and could trend in his direction long term.”
The Rebels also held pick number 16, which they received as part of the return on the Josh Mahura deal to the Regina Pats. With that selection they were able to scoop Kyle Masters out of the OHA Edmonton Bantam Prep program. Masters is a defenseman that is 5-foot-10 and 147 pounds. With his academy team he put up seven goals and added 17 assists in 29 games. He also played in the John Reid tournament and the Alberta Cup adding one and five points respectively.
Assistant General Manager Shaun Sutter was pleased with the chance to pick Masters at 16th overall, “He has some real good offensive upside and he’s also a competitor, he’s played forward and ‘D’ with the way the game has split now with speed and puck transition. Kyle also shoots right-handed and it’s hard to find right-handed defencemen.”
“We said at the beginning of the St. Albert tournament (in January) that he’d be a guy we’d be happy to get with that pick. To walk away with him at 16, we feel fortunate.”
Draft Geek had this to say about the defenseman from Edmonton. “Kyle Masters plays with pace and a compete level that most nights goes unmatched. He’s a physically imposing defensive zone presence, and can catch forwards transitioning down ice if they don’t have their head up. Has demonstrated strong ability in his puck retrievals and is quick to begin the transition down ice. An effective transporter, and also connects well on outlet passes. Shows good awareness in all three zones, and is quick to activate and close on opposing forwards around the net. Good along the offensive zone blue line, keeping the puck in the zone and becoming an option for forwards. Has a solid shot from distance, and is a strong shooting option weak side on the power play. Masters is well rounded, and has the skating ability and puck moving skill to be a key defenceman on a WHL team a few years down the road.”
The Rebels also added defenseman Trey Patterson from the Calgary Bisons Bantam AAA program with their third pick at 28th overall. Patterson scored four goals and added 21 assists.
The scouts from Draft Geek have a lot to say about Patterson, “A cerebral young defender who elevated his game a tonne as the year progressed, becoming a reliable two-way defender who plays the game with precision and natural mobility. A rangy athletic defender who excels when keeping his game simple and consistent. Incredibly efficient in transition, starting with his defensive retrievals as he immediately looks to cut up in transition, has shown the ability to read the neutral zone well and distribute the puck when given open ice or transport the puck to the red line and get the zone. Contains fairly well defensively, where he forces puck carriers to the outside with good gap control. His mobility on the blue line with the puck improved as the season progressed, doesn’t have a great shot but has the vision with the puck to make distribute it with ease. A relatively safe pick for a team at the draft, doesn’t possess a whole lot of risk for the potential role he will play at the next level. Will need to work on developing his puck skills and skating abilities as well as working towards becoming more assertive physically and working out of pressure areas with the puck.”
Another OHA Edmonton program player was selected with the 50th overall draft pick. Josh Medernach is a 5-foot-11 165 pound forward who was able to produce 16 goals and add 20 assists. He also played at the John Reid and Alberta Cup tournaments this season.
“Medernach plays an up-tempo game with his ability to quickly cover ice and create scoring chances as his foot speed and puck skill opens up plenty of time and space. Active defensively quickly moving into lanes and creating turnovers. Connects on the majority of his passes, and is effective in transition as he gains speed down ice and has shown creativity with his offensive attack. A skilled skater with playmaking and scoring ability who will contribute in many roles at the WHL level.” said the scouting report from the Draft Geek team.
A third player from OHA Edmonton, Jeremy Hancock, was selected with the 72nd overall pick. The 6-foot-4 170 pound defenseman hails from Melfort, Saskatchewan. He scored twice this season and added nine assists in 26 games with the academy. He too played in the John Reid tournament this season.
Draft Geek had some insight regarding Hancock. “A towering right shot defenceman with a smooth stride and the ability to cover ice quickly. Defensive oriented players who at times has physically dominated forwards low in the defensive zone and is quick to pop the puck up to a winger. Could be a big time riser on draft day given his size and the complete game he brings to the table, and if the offensive side of the game continues to come around he could project as a top flight 19/20 year old in the WHL. Hancock is a low risk/high reward prospect with the IQ and physical tools to be a very valuable selection. ”
The 94th overall pick was Chase Bertholet. The Manitoba product played for the Norman Wolves of the WBAAA in Manitoba. The Thompson, MB product is a smaller forward, measuring 5-foot-8 137 pounds.
“Had a strong Manitoba POE camp in April and was able to really raise his draft stock with those strong performances. A scoring forward who plays the game with intensity and creativity. Attacks with separation speed down the wing and can beat defenders wide with ease. Loves to play the skilled game and control the puck at high speeds. At times he forces pucks on net that you question but his release is smooth and he gets it off well in stride. Has a tonne of room to grow but has all the tools necessary to be a scoring middle six winger at the junior level. Expect big things next season from him and he could likely look like a steal if taken later on the draft” added Draft Geek
Calgary Northstars goaltender Dylan Lacroix was selected with the Rebels next pick at 120th overall. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 168 pounds.
Red Deer also owned the 138th overall pick and selected Foward Hunter Brown of the Fort St. John Bantam AA Flyers. He had 43 goals and 24 assists in 29 games with the Flyers.
Another goaltender was selected by the Rebels with their pick at 160. Estevan Bruins backstopper Zane Winter was their selection. In 23 games he had a goals against average of 3.45
Red Deer then traded a few of their picks to the Kelowna Rockets. Their pick at 191 and 204 were sent to Kelowna in exchange for a 9th round pick in 2019.
The last player taken by the Rebels before they called it a day at this years draft was Dylan Fader out of the St. George’s School Bantam Varsity program. The forward had 33 goals and 61 assists in 30 regular season games and added 17 points in his five playoff games.
