By rdnewsNOW staff

dropping the puck

WHL and Rebels represented strongly on NHL opening night rosters

Oct 7, 2025 | 3:59 PM

Seven former Red Deer Rebels are on opening day rosters in the NHL for the 2025/2026 season.

Among them are:

Alexander Petrovic – Dallas Stars

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Edmonton Oilers

Darcy Kuemper – Los Angeles Kings

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Brandon Hagel – Tampa Bay Lightning

Arshdeep Bains – Vancouver Canucks

Jake DeBrusk – Vancouver Canucks

Haydn Fleury – Winnipeg Jets

Per the Western Hockey League:

Across the entire CHL, a total of 402 players hailing from the WHL, Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), find themselves on NHL Opening Day rosters for 2025-26, including 145 from the WHL (36.1 per cent), 187 from the OHL (46.5 per cent), and 71 from the QMJHL (17.7 per cent).

One quarter of teams are also captained by former WHLers.