Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Photo: Red Deer Rebels/Dave Brunner Photography)

By Troy Gillard

divison winners, full of character

Looking back on the 2010-11 Red Deer Rebels

May 13, 2020 | 1:47 PM

Outside of 2015-16 when they hosted the Memorial Cup and came within a goal of playing in the championship game, the most successful Red Deer Rebels season of the past decade came in 2010-11.

Under the guidance of head coach Jesse Wallin, the Rebels amassed a 48-16-0-8 record and claimed the WHL Central Division pennant.

Up front, the Rebels were led by the phenomenal Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who piled up 106 points on his way to being selected first overall at the 2011 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers.

His linemates, Andrej Kudrna and Byron Froese, each had over 80 points, while John Persson and Brett Ferguson both had 61. Future captains Turner Elson and Adam Kambeitz helped round out a solid forward group.

The blueline was anchored by Alex Petrovic and Red Deer native/team captain Colin Archer. Aaron Borejko and Justin Weller proved additional veteran savvy while a young Matt Dumba scored 15 goals in his first full WHL season.

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Between the pipes, CHL Goaltender of the Year Darcy Kuemper was a rock, piling up 13 shutouts in the regular season.

The Rebels swept the up and coming Edmonton Oil Kings in round one of the post-season before being upended by the Medicine Hat Tigers in five games in round two.

As successful as the team was on the ice, they were a ton of fun to be around as anyone who covered them that season can attest.

Cam Moon, the Voice of the Rebels, stopped by to chat about his memories of the 2010-11 Red Deer Rebels. Listen below.