WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Acquire 2017 Top 10 Bantam Draft Pick in Deal with Giants

Published on August 30, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


The Red Deer Rebels added to their stable of impressive young defenceman Friday by acquiring 17-year-old Joel Sexsmith in a trade with the Vancouver Giants.

The Rebels also received a conditional 2020 bantam draft pick while the Giants received the WHL rights to Brendan Budy, a player the Rebels selected in the fourth round of the 2015 WHL draft.

Sexsmith was the ninth overall selection, by the Swift Current Broncos, in the 2017 WHL bantam draft and was dealt to the Giants in January of 2018.

The Edmonton native missed half of last season due to injury, then returned to record five goals and 12 points in 15 games with the Delta Hockey Academy prep team. He also suited up with the Giants for a single game.

"He was one of the top three defencemen in the bantam draft two years ago," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter.

Budy is a player the Rebels pursued for several years. He never showed, however, and went on to play two seasons with his hometown Rivermen of the BCHL, earning an NCAA scholarship to the University of Denver in the process.

Budy, however, left Denver after playing just six games last season and joined the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, putting up 11 goals and 31 points in 31 games.

The 19-year-old forward decided to return to Canada this year but indicated Vancouver was his one and only desired WHL location. The Giants, as a result, were only too eager to secure his rights.

"He (Budy) has come home now and he's a top-end player. Vancouver has an older team and he'll fit in well with them and be a good player for them," said Sutter.

"When you trade a player like that you have to get back what you feel is fair."

Sexsmith, six-foot-one and 185 pounds, is the return and will join an up and coming Red Deer blueline group.

"At the end of the day we feel it's a fair deal for both teams and for the players involved," said Sutter. "Budy's family is happy and Joel's family is happy because he's coming back to Alberta, closer to Edmonton, to play.

"It works out well for everyone."

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Western Hockey League Stories from August 30, 2019


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