The 2026 Red Deer Rebels U15 Fall Classic has come and gone, and there were plenty of standout plays as well as players. OHA Edmonton took home gold, while Calgary International Hockey Academy and South Alberta Hockey Academy took silver and bronze, respectively. I have compiled a list of my five favourite players to come out of the weekend, and to note, this is not a top five. These are simply a few of the players I liked watching the most.
#1: Deacon Gillespie (OHA Edmonton)
Perhaps the most skilled blueliner of the tournament, Gillespie showed elite skating ability as well as a large amount of offensive poise. Not everyone can be Cale Makar or Lane Hutson, but the OHA defender has that profile. With that said, when he wasn’t generating offense with his elusive edge work and snappy release, Gillespie was equally a shutdown defender. Multiple times, an opponent would fire a pass or clear down the ice, and he’d simply swat it down with his stick. Whichever team is lucky enough to select him next spring will be some very happy campers.
#2: Ian Kim (EDGE Prep)
Now on to arguably the most skilled player of the tournament. Kim lit the lamp 10 times over the weekend, netting three hat tricks- one of them against the eventual champions in OHA Edmonton. The name of Kim’s game is speed, and he does it incredibly well; the way in which he will come out of a turn, facing the play, faster than he went into it is similar to that of Antonio Stranges from a few years ago. Pair that with an elite shot, and even better vision, and Ian Kim will likely be a top-five pick come May.
#3: Miles Hartmann (OHA Edmonton)
This was, for all intents and purposes, my favourite player of the tournament. There is so much to love about Hartmann’s game, and he’s so easy to root for. First and foremost, what stands out right away is his motor; it simply does not end. This makes him an incredible penalty killer (which he was, alongside Marek Fetter) and enables him to score shorthanded goals on work ethic alone. With that said, the OHA forward’s game is not flashy. It could be compared to a slightly higher-skilled Zach Hyman, with dogged effort, but he is known to make a smart pass or two when the time comes. His shot is quick, not allowing goaltenders to get set up, and he is a complete 200-foot player. Hartmann may not be selected high in the draft, but whatever team does get him should consider themselves lucky.
#4: RJ Celebrini (North Shore Winter Club)
The youngest of the Celebrini trio, RJ is the total package. Before he missed the final two games of the weekend, he could not be stopped. Quick, shifty skating, an unbelievable nose for the puck (as well as the net) and a shot that could potentially be already described as NHL-ready. However, only two of Celebrini’s 13 points were goals; the North Shore superstar found himself much more of a playmaker, and with the amount of attention he demands on the ice with his presence alone, it makes open targets much easier to see. RJ Celebrini is already commanding a top-five spot in the upcoming WHL Draft next May, and he could hear his name called sooner than later.
#5: Alex Ubongen (EDGE Prep)
While not considered a “points guy” for EDGE (though he did post three points), he didn’t need to be. Alex Ubongen was a transition machine over the weekend, playing impressively sound positional hockey and just physical enough to free opponents from the puck. Yes, getting the puck up the ice is much easier when your forwards are Ian Kim and Nazar Shmatok, but Ubongen proved to the crowds that he could hold his own; he rarely got caught out of position, forcing attackers into uncomfortable positions, and moved the puck with relative ease. Similar to Hartmann, Ubongen may not be a top-five or ten selection, but he will be a substantial impact player for any WHL franchise.