June 6, 1996   Rebels Trainer Dave “Radar” Horning is selected as the Equipment Manager for Canadian World Junior Hockey Team.

June 18, 1996   The Rebels name Doug Hobson as the Assistant Coach for the 1996-97 season.  Hobson was the Head Coach of the Victoria/Prince George Cougars from November 1993 to November 1995.

June 22, 1996   Four Rebels are taken in the NHL Entry Draft.  Lance Ward (New Jersey - 1st round),  Jesse Wallin (Detroit - 1st round), Arron Asham ( Montreal - 3rd round),  Jon Zukiwsky (St.Louis - 4th round).  Ward becomes the highest NHL draft pick in Rebels history at 10th overall.

June 26, 1996   The Rebels take Michal Horak in the first round, 17th overall of the Import Draft.

July 4, 1996   The Rebels acquire 20 year old forward Matt Van Horlick from the Prince George Cougars for a draft pick in the Bantam Draft.

September 20, 1996  The Lethbridge Hurricanes win 4-1 in Red Deer in the Rebels season opener.  Martin Tomasek scored the Rebels only goal.
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September 26, 1996  The Rebels trade 17 year old defenseman Pat Stachniak to the Medicine Hat Tigers for 16 year old Justin Wallin.  Wallin is currently playing ‘AAA’ midget in his hometown of North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

September 25, 1996  The Rebels win 4-2 over Prince Albert in Red Deer starting a team record 11 straight wins.

Ocotober 1, 1996  The Rebels trade 18 year old goaltender Joe Stephenson to the Calgary Hitmen for future considerations.

October 2, 1996  The Rebels trade 18 year old defenseman Harlan Pratt to the Prince Albert Raiders for future considerations

October 8, 1996  The Rebels trade 20 year old goaltender Chris Wickenheiser to the Portland Winter Hawks.  Wickenheiser is in 4th year in the WHL, he’s played the previous 3 season in Red Deer

October 19, 1996  Kelowna wins 6-2 over Red Deer in Kelowna to end the 11 game winning streak.  It also ends the Rebels 7 straight wins on the road, also a team record.

November 15, 1996  BJ Young picks up 3 goals and 3 assists in a 9-3 victory over the Edmonton Ice.  John Kachur scored all 3 goals for Edmonton.

November17, 1996  Goaltender Chris Wickenhieser makes his return to Red Deer with the Portland Winter Hawks.  The Winter Hawks win 5-2, Wickenheiser makes 22 saves in the win.

November 20, 1996  The Rebels trade 18 year old forward Ken McKay to the Tri-City Americans for 17 year old forward Vladmir Bednar.

November 27, 1996   The Rebels win 5-0 over the Medicine Hat Tigers.  Mike Whitney makes 29 saves for the shutout.

January 13, 1997  The Rebels trade Matt Van Horlick and Kris Knoblauch to the Edmonton Ice for 19 year old forward Scott Burt

January 23, 1997  The Rebels trade a conditional draft pick to the Tri-City Americans for 19 year old Terry Ryan.  Ryan was with the Montreal Canadiens during the first half of the season and was a first round pick of the Canadiens in 1995.

January 24, 1997  The Rebels acquire 20 year old goaltender Marc Magliarditi from the Spokane Chiefs for future considerations.  Magliarditi is a Chicago Blackhawks 6th round pick in 1996.

January 31, 1997  Marc Magliarditi makes his first start for the Rebels.   Red Deer defeats Brandon 2-1 at the Centrium, Magliarditi makes 26 saves for the win.

February 23, 1997  BJ Young is named the McDonald’s Player of the Year.

March 14, 1997  The Rebels defeat the Calgary Hitmen 10-5 in the last regular season game of 96-97.  10 goals ties a Rebels record for most goals scored in a game.  BJ Young scores his 58th goal of the season, a team record.  The Rebels and the season with the best record in the club’s history 43-26-3 including 20 wins on the road.

March 26, 1997  The Rebels win 5-1 over the Regina Pats and defeat the Pats 4 games to 1 in the first round of the playoffs.  BJ Young scores twice and adds an assist.  Marc Magliarditi makes 32 saves for the win.

April 8, 1997   The Rebels defeat the Swift Current Broncos 6-2 and win the East Division Semi-Final 4 games to 2.  Terry Ryan scored twice in the win.  The Rebels go to the East Division Final for the first time in the franchises history.

April 13, 1997   After dropping the first game of the East Division Final with Lethbridge 3-2 in overtime, the Rebels rebound with a 7-4 win at the Sportsplex in Lethbridge.  Jon Zukiwsky scores three times for Red Deer.

April 18, 1997   Lethbridge wins 5-2 over Red Deer in Lethbridge.  The Hurricanes win the East Division Final 4 games to 1.  Arron Asham leads the Rebels in playoff scoring with 26 points in 16 games.  Terry Ryan led the team in goals with 18 in 16 games.

April 24, 1997   The Rebels select Kevin Labbe in the first round, 14th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft.  The Edmonton Ice take Jarrett Stoll with the first overall pick.

May 28, 1997   The Rebels change their logo and colors.  White, Black and Dark Red are now the teams colors.  Gone are the Black, Silver and White jerseys that were with the team since the inaugural season (92-93).  A new logo with the bull skull with crossed hockey sticks is on the front of the jersey.