(Red Deer Rebels/ Taylor Lachance)

By Ian Gustafson

Thanks for the Memories

Rebels bid farewell to graduating 20-year-old players

Mar 25, 2025 | 12:30 PM

It was an emotional day for the Red Deer Rebels on Monday when they said goodbye to 20-year-old players Jace Weir, Jhett Larson, and Keaton Dowhaniuk.

The Rebels season wrapped up on Sunday and the team wasted no time completing their exit interviews a day later.

The trio of leaders meant a lot to the club over the years, especially Larson and Weir, who played their whole Western Hockey League careers in Red Deer. Dowhaniuk joined the Rebels halfway through this season after a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors.

“I’m just trying to soak it in right now. It hasn’t set in fully,” Larson said after he was asked about his last day as a Rebel. “It’s been a ride for sure. Lots of great teammates, great captains, great leaders, great coaches, great staff, and Brent taking care of us all the time. It’s been great here.”

Larson was drafted by the Rebels in 2019 but spent his first season in Red Deer in the COVID-19 bubble. For those who may have forgot, the Centrium was home to the Rebels in 2020… literally.

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In order to abide by the rules, the players each lived in a suite in the Centrium, an experience like no other.

“It feels just like yesterday. We were talking about it just how we had to go to school here in the morning, eat breakfast, and then four years go bye and we played our last game in Edmonton,” Larson added.

Next year, Larson will head to the U.S. to play college hockey in the NCAA at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, he’ll be joined by Dowhaniuk.

Earlier this season, Larson became the first Rebels player to sign in the NCAA. He said he couldn’t have done it without his teammates and coaches in Red Deer.

“I think they’ve just shown me how much work ethic improves your game and makes people notice. I think everyone is going to work on the same skills but I think your heart and your compete really separates you. That’s what I’ve been trying to work on ever since I got here,” Larson said.

Larson will head back home to Delisle, Sask, for the summer before heading to school. Although it might be goodbye for now, he’ll never forget the friends and family he’s created in the community.

“It’s just been great. There’s so much support, like when we go to the school. All of the kids, they love it and it makes you love it more too. It makes you be proud to be a Rebel and that’s what it’s all about.”

Defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk has only been a member of the Rebels since January when he was traded to the club as part of a three-team deal that involved the Swift Current Broncos.

Despite his short time here, he reflected on his WHL career that included four seasons with the Prince George Cougars. He was then traded to the Warriors earlier this season before coming to Red Deer.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet but it was a good career I think in the WHL. I’m content with it. I wish we could of made playoffs this year but sometimes that’s the way it goes,” Dowhaniuk said.

“It flew by just like that. It feels like yesterday I came in the league and the older guys said enjoy it. Now I’m that older guy telling the young guys to enjoy it. It flies by and you don’t really know how quick until it’s over.”

The Star City, Sask. native explained it was great to finish his major junior career closer to home. Up next, he’ll head to Alaska with Larson to compete at the next level. He committed to the school prior to Christmas break.

“That’ll be a good journey and I’m excited for the next chapter.”

Defenceman Jace Weir spent five seasons in Red Deer after the Coldstream, B.C. native was selected in the second round of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft.

He explained it was sad to live out his final day as a Rebel but made a point of looking back on all of the great memories, including all of the the relationships formed with his teammates and the community.

“On and off the ice, I’m a completely different person [from when I first got here,] for the better in my opinion,” Weir said. “It’s all because of what I’ve learned here. Like I said before, working hard and habits, you can use those skills in hockey and outside of hockey as well. Life after hockey and life in general.”

Weir hasn’t made any commitments yet but plans to go to school next year to play hockey whether that’s in the NCAA or in USports.

While he ponders on his decision, he couldn’t be more thankful for his time with the organization.

“I think with this place, it’s just you know everyone really cares about you and it’s really easy to tell but you have to put your work boots on and go to work. That’s all it is really, they give you all the tools you just have to use them,” he added.

Weir was named the Rebels Humanitarian of the Year this season. Even though he didn’t expect it, he was honoured to accept it. He said he followed in the foot steps of Blake Gustafson, Joel Sexsmith, and Kai Uchacz, who won the award when he was younger.

One of the many things the team gets to do is visit schools in Red Deer to meet local youth.

“It’s a little thing that goes so far to the kids because they look up to us,” he said.

“We’re the Red Deer Rebels and we have to present ourselves in a way we want to be presented. With Red Deer, from top down everyone is just a really good person, so it’s easy to do nice things for people because when you’re in the environment like this you get put into it. It’s awesome.”

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