Helewka Signs With Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have signed Red Deer Rebels forward Adam Helewka to an entry level contract.

The Sharks selected six-foot-two, 200-pound Burnaby, BC native in the 4th round, 106th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Helewka started this season by playing three games with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. He was returned to the Spokane Chiefs before being acquired by the Rebels on January 1.

Captain Philp Ready To Steer Rebels Ship Into Playoffs

Photo: Rob Wallator

“I am the Captain now!”

That’s not quite how Luke Philp reacted when Brent Sutter told him he was the new captain of the Red Deer Rebels. But the five year WHL veteran was pretty thrilled to get the nod.

“Obviously, it’s very exciting. It’s a huge honour and it’s really humbling because there’s lots of good leaders on this team.”

New Brunswick Awarded 2017 Allan Cup

New Brunswick has been awarded the 2017 Allan Cup tournament.

Hockey Canada Senior Council will now take their recommendation to the Board of Directors meeting later this month for a final vote.

Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland were also hoping to be named as the host province. 

Locally, the Bentley Generals, Innisfail Eagles and Stony Plain Eagles had each announced their intentions to bid had Alberta been selected.

The 2017 tournament became available after the original host team, the Kenora Thistles, folded last month. 

New Brunswick will now choose a host team from the North East Senior Hockey League.

Generals, Eagles Seek To Host 2017 Allan Cup

The Bentley Generals hosted the Allan Cup in 2013
and hope to do so again in 2017

The 2017 Allan Cup championship tournament finds itself without a host.

Both the Bentley (soon to be Lacombe) Generals and Innisfail Eagles hope to fix that. 

The Kenora Thistles, who hosted the Allan Cup in 2011, were to do so again next year. That changed when the Thistles suddenly folded this month. Team President Gary Forsyth confirmed the news through a post to the Allan Cup message board.

In light of the news, Hockey Canada has issued a nation-wide call to find a replacement host for the 2017 tournament. Both the Generals and Eagles, along with Stony Plain, will be bidding to take over from Kenora.

Rebels Confident Their Shelves Remain Well-Stocked Following Trades

Shaun Sutter

“The Red Deer Rebels are selling the farm to load up for the Memorial Cup!”

This has been a common refrain from pundits near and far in wake of the blockbuster trades the Rebels have made over the past couple of weeks.

There’s a concern out there that the Rebels are doomed to follow the lead of the Saskatoon Blades in going all out now by giving away their future. (We all know how that worked out for them )

Team brass, however, is confident in their belief that the Rebels cupboard for next year and beyond is not as empty as many believe.

Assistant GM Shaun Sutter spoke with Cam Moon during Wednesday night’s broadcast on 106.7 The Drive of the Rebels’ 5-0 win in Saskatoon. Sutter presented the team’s case that they are indeed not talent-strapped for the post-Memorial Cup era.

“A lot of people see what’s going out the door, the abundance of draft picks and players going out,” Sutter noted. “But, we’ve accumulated an abundance of draft picks for this reason, to hopefully keep our younger players in the fold, those on our roster and those who aren’t on our team, so we can have success down the line.”

REBELS: Skill and Size improved with additions of DeBrusk and Rattie

There's no secret about what Taden Rattie is expected to bring to the Red Deer Rebels.

The team acquired Rattie's WHL rights from Portland Monday in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. Rattie reported to the Rebels Tuesday morning. 

He's here to make his imposing presence felt and make the Rebels a tougher team to play against, and Rattie has the credentials.

"My size factor, they [Brent and Shaun Sutter] talked about it," Rattie said prior to his first practice with the Rebels. "I'm 6'4" so I've got to use my body out there, finish checks and just forecheck hard and do what I can."

The Airdrie native has racked up 297 penalty minutes in 87 career games in the AJHL, including 142 in 34 games with the Calgary Mustangs this season (3rd in the league).

It's Official, Bentley Generals Moving to Lacombe

Photo: Rod Ince, Fast Photo

The Bentley Generals will moving base camp a few miles east next year.

Lacombe City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a $3.4-million plan to build new dressing rooms for the Barnett Arena, including a new team area for the Generals.

Team officials weren't sure what to expect ahead of Monday's vote. They were relieved once council approved the plan following a short discussion.

In response to questions from a couple of city councillors, Generals officials at Monday's meeting said they will make their new area available for use by other groups during their off-season. Negotiations will take place over the coming months.

The two sides will also look at how they can work together on fundraising endeavors for the arena expansion. Council is optimistic the project can be done for less than the budget $3.4-million.

Work on the new dressing rooms is expected to this spring and be completed in time for the Generals to play in Lacombe full-time next season.