By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Alexeyev and Barteaux selected by Capitals and Stars in NHL Draft

Jun 22, 2018 | 9:15 PM

Red Deer Rebels defenceman Alexander Alexeyev was selected 31st overall in the NHL Draft by the reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on Friday night.

The St. Petersburg, Russia native had seven goals and 30 assists in 45 games with the WHL’s Rebels last season.

Alexeyev missed about three weeks midway through the season as he flew home to tend to his ailing mother. She later passed away. Following his selection, the 1999-born Alexeyev told Tara Slone of Rogers Sportsnet, “I think she would be so happy to see me in this jersey. I hope she’s sitting up there right now.”

In his first season with Red Deer, Alexeyev had four goals and 17 assists in 41 games. That season ended in surgery for the Russian. He was injured once again shortly after returning from Russia this season, but was still projected by several analysts to go in either the first or second round of the draft.

Alexeyev, who won’t turn 19 until November, was the fourth Russian taken in the first round of the 2018 draft.

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His selection also marks the 26th year in a row a Red Deer Rebels player has been taken in the draft — a streak which began at the franchise’s inception.

The other Red Deer Rebel selected was 18-year-old defenceman Dawson Barteaux who was picked in round six, 168th overall by the Dallas Stars. Barteaux, a 6’1″, 176 pound native of Foxwarren, Manitoba played 64 games for the Rebels in 2017-2018, scoring three goals with 29 assists for 32 points on the season.

Other Rebels thought to have a good shot at being picked on day two of the draft but were not selected included Kristian Reichel (ranked 53rd), forward Chris Douglas (168th) and defenceman Jacob Herauf (188th).

What a day , what a emotion , can’t explain what I feel right now , just happy to be drafted by great organization as @capitals
Thanks everyone who support me on my way to this dream , hope you see it up there ❤️😔☝🏻 pic.twitter.com/VJxHhgCJby

— Alex_Alexeyev (@Alexeyev04) June 23, 2018