Brigley, Yaremko, and Chichkin depart Rebels with fond memories

“It’s meant everything [to be a Red Deer Rebel],” Brigley told local media members. “Coming in here at 16 to now, I’ve learned so much, and I’m a different person now than I was then. Even this year with [head coach March Habscheid] coming in and the wisdom he has and sharing that with us, I’ve learned so much from him, and I owe a lot to him. Giving me confidence this year to be the player I want to be and the leader I want to be. I’ll take that with me forever.”

Brigley was selected by the Rebels 24th overall in the second round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.

He went on to become the Rebels’ all-time leader in regular-season games played with 329, overtaking the previous record of 302. He also served as captain in his final season.

Those are significant accomplishments from someone who only dreamt of playing for the Rebels from a young age.

“The biggest [memory] for me was coming to the games as a kid,” Brigley said. “I still remember where we sat. My dad had season tickets through work, and we’d come to as many games as we could. It’s always been surreal for me to put the jersey on, and I never took it for granted. For it to be over, it’s sad, but I’m so fortunate to be able to be here for five years and meet the people that I have, and the friendships that I’ve made will last forever.”

If he had to give advice to the Rebels’ younger players, he said it’s important to be yourself on and off the ice and work hard.

“We have simple rules here: be a good teammate, work as hard as you can, and treat others how you want to be treated… Everyone does that here; it’s the culture we have, and it’s not hard to find those guys when they come in. They learn quickly that this is the way it is, and everyone in there is an unreal human being. I know they’re going to have a lot of success in the future.”

Up next, Brigley is headed to Connecticut to play NCAA Div. I hockey at Sacred Heart University.

“It will be something different. Getting out of Red Deer will be new for me, but I’m excited. A change of scenery will be fun, and playing in a new league against older guys, I’m excited to see what the competition is like,” Brigley said. “I’ll definitely miss this place and these guys.”

Meanwhile, forward Tyson Yaremko said even though it was a short stint with the Rebels, he enjoyed his time with the club.

“I had a great opportunity coming here from Portland. It’s such a great organization with a great coaching staff, and you have Brent running it all. He’s a player’s coach and a player’s general manager, and so is Marc, so it’s awesome to have that,” Yaremko said.

The product of Saskatoon, Sask., was drafted 68th overall in the fourth round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft before playing his first full WHL campaign in the 2023-24 season for the Portland Winterhawks.

He played two full years in Portland before he was traded to Red Deer after suiting up in 12 games for the Winterhawks this season.

“I think [my biggest memory] is going to be the bus trips and hanging out with all the guys every day. The bus trips you kind of take for granted. You don’t want to do it, but it’s the best part of the junior hockey experience. You’re on the bus for how many hours every week, and it’s just the best experience,” he said, adding he also got to meet lots of people playing on different teams.

Next up, he’ll head to the NCAA next season to play for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

“I had a tough year last year battling an injury and a couple of injuries this year near the end of the season, but I think it was a great year,” Yaremko added. “I think I’m ready to go play Division I and have a great summer rehabbing my injuries.”

For defenceman Aleksey Chichkin, he said playing for the Rebels was an unreal experience and that anyone would be lucky to play here.

“It’s been unbelievable [to play in the WHL]. The league’s given me so much more than I could ever ask for,” Chichkin said. “You look at where I was at 16 and where I am today I’m so happy to be a part of all those teams, and the chances coaches took on me… I learned something from every place and I’m really thankful.”

The product of New Westminster, B.C., played on four different teams before he was traded to Red Deer in October 2025.

He made his WHL debut with the Calgary Hitmen but also suited up for the Regina Pats and Prince George Cougars.

It’s all the years spent in the WHL and the people he met along the way that made it hard to move on from.

“You see the coaches, and you tear up a little bit… It’s hard. These coaches have poured so much into me and took a chance on me,” he said.

Chichkin was supposed to go play NCAA Div. I hockey at Mercyhurst University next season, but news broke recently that the institution shut down the men’s program.

Now, the search begins for another place to play for the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.

“I found out the day of Game 1, so I haven’t really thought about it,” Chichkin said. “The coaches have been talking to schools for me, so I’ll figure it out and get into it over the next couple of days.”

by Ian Gustafson

Brigley, Yaremko, and Chichkin depart Rebels with fond memories

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