Rebels forward Mathew Gard fires a shot against the Medicine Hat Tigers in WHL action at the Peavey Mart Centrium earlier this season. (Photo by Taylor Lachance/ Red Deer Rebels)

By Ian Gustafson

Draft year

Red Deer Rebels named to NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary list

Oct 23, 2024 | 2:00 PM

On Wednesday the Western Hockey League announced that 55 players were named to the National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting’s Preliminary Players to Watch List ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Among the players named were Red Deer Rebels defenceman Luke Vlooswyk and forward Matthew Gard.

Vlooswyk, 17, was given a ‘C’ rating by NHL Central Scouting which means he’s expected to be a fourth or fifth round selection in the draft this summer.

The Calgary native played just seven regular season games with the Rebels at the end of the 2023-24 campaign where he scored two points in seven games. He added two points in nine playoff games.

In his first full season with the Rebels this year, the 6’4″, 200 pound rearguard has notched one goal and two assists in 11 games. Vlooswyk was drafted by the Rebels 17th overall in the first round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

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Gard, 17, received a ‘B’ rating by NHL Central Scouting and could be selected by a club between the second and third rounds.

The Winnipeg product is in his second full season with the Rebels. In the 2023-24 season he scored seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 55 games. He also had one point in seven playoff games.

This year, he’s taken a big step up offensively and leads the team with three goals and five assists in 10 games.

Standing at 6’4″, and 192 pounds, he was selected 39th overall in the second round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

In addition, Sylvan Lake’s Spencer Michnik, who plays for the WHL’s Victoria Royals, was given a ‘W’ rating, which means he could be taken in the sixth or seventh rounds.

The 18-year-old goaltender has appeared in five games with the Royals this season and has posted a 2.14 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. When he’s been in net he’s helped Victoria reach a 3-1 record.

Last season with the Seattle Thunderbirds, he appeared in 21 games where he posted a 4.60 GAA and a .868 save percentage.