Former first-round pick, Cole Peardon, looking to get back on track with Rebels

“[The trade] was a big surprise. I was just getting ready for a game that day, and all of a sudden I’m getting traded to Red Deer.”

Peardon is a former first-round selection in the 2021 WHL Prospects where he was taken 13th overall by the Raiders.

He has 27 points in 126 career games in the Western Hockey League, and this season so far, has one goal and two assists for three points in 16 games. He missed some time at the start of the season with an injury.

The Rebels play a hard, physical, and fast game, which Peardon said fits into his style of play well.

Standing six-feet tall and 177 pounds, he said his physical play, skating ability, and shot are his strongest attributes.

“I think I’ll make a difference,” he added. “A fresh start will be huge for me and I think it’ll be really good.”

Peardon already has a few friends on the team previously playing alongside goaltender Chase Wutzke and forward Trae Wilke in Saskatchewan.

He played at the U18 AAA level with Wilke on the Saskatoon Blazers during the 2022-23 season and two years with Wutzke in Martensville.

“It’s made the transition a lot easier knowing them,” he said.

Over his two and a half seasons in P.A., Peardon believes he’s become a more reliable player on the ice, but explained there’s still more to be done.

“The biggest thing is getting your coach to trust you in the defensive zone. Now, I just need to take the next step with scoring and getting some offensive chances.”

Rebels president, owner, and general manager, Brent Sutter, said Peardon has a great skill set, is a good skater, and is smart.

“He put up big numbers in U18AAA hockey in Saskatchewan and we felt that maybe a change might do him some good,” he said.

“It’s something we had discussed for a period of time now and we thought we’d make it work. We’re hoping he can find his way and fall into our top-nine forward situation. It’s a new life for him again and we’ll see how he handles it and takes it. He’s one of those players that if he can figure it out, he can be a great player.”

Now former Rebel, Evan Smith, had just one goal and four assists in 28 games this season.

Overall, he had nine points in 85 career WHL games. Smith was taken 95th overall in the fifth round of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

“Smitty is a great kid and he did everything that was asked of him, so in that sense, it was a tough trade to make,” Sutter added. “We felt that with Peardon, he’s more skilled out there and there’s a reason why he was taken in the first round.”

The Rebels will be back in action on Friday when they head to Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes followed by the annual Toque and Teddy Bear Toss game on Saturday when Red Deer hosts the Kamloops Blazers at 7 p.m.

by Ian Gustafson

Former first-round pick, Cole Peardon, looking to get back on track with Rebels

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