(Red Deer Rebels)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

gm addresses controversy

Uchacz becomes captain as Rebels announce new leadership group

Sep 29, 2023 | 5:17 PM

The Red Deer Rebels have announced a new leadership group for the 2023-24 WHL season.

Leading the way is new Captain Kai Uchacz, who’ll be joined by alternates Jhett Larson, Kalan Lind, Mats Lindgren and Hunter Mayo.

Uchacz was the source of a racism-related controversy in spring 2021 while with the Seattle Thunderbirds organization. It was said that he directed a slur and/or taunt at Mekai Sanders, one of his Seattle teammates who is Black.

He was later released from the Thunderbirds, then acquired by Red Deer later in 2021.

Rebels General Manager Brent Sutter addressed that situation in an article published to CHL.ca on Sept. 29, 2023.

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“He made a mistake a few years back, and has owned that mistake fully. That is not lost on us. He was rightfully disciplined at the time by Seattle, and worked hard both on a league-mandated program, as well as on his own, to better understand and learn from his actions,” Sutter said. “In his time in Red Deer, he has taken every opportunity to engage in the community, and will continue speaking to school classes this season.”

The team did receive backlash on X/Twitter on Friday after making the announcement.

In a statement from June 2021, after being acquired by Red Deer, Uchacz, in the midst of his training, said he took full responsibility for his actions.

rdnewsNOW anticipates having more on the Uchacz story in the days to come.

Meantime, Uchacz’s appointment comes as Jayden Grubbe, who’d been captain since the 2020-21 season, was assigned to Bakersfield of the AHL this week. That team is the affiliate to the Edmonton Oilers, who acquired him from the Rangers in May 2023.

As per the CHL and Red Deer Rebels:

Lind (’05) is going into his second full season with the club. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in round two of the 2023 NHL Draft and attended training camp with the Predators this month, playing in one preseason game.

Lindgren (’04) is entering his second season with the Rebels and just attended camp with the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him at the 2022 NHL Draft, and also played one preseason game.

Mayo (’04) is entering his third full season with the Rebels and just attended camp with the Los Angeles Kings.

Larson (’04) is in his fourth season with the Rebels and has been a key member of the Rebels’ top line each of the last two years