Rebels skate past Hurricanes 5-2
Red Deer, AB – The Hurricanes suffered their third straight loss to Medicine Hat earlier in the week, but had a chance to get back in the win column away from the ENMAX Centre. Lethbridge was embarking on a five game road trip with their first stop in Red Deer. Tonight’s starters: G – Jonny Hogue, D – Tyler Bell, Nick Walters, F – Riley Sheen, Brady Ramsay, Taylor Cooper.
The Hurricanes got off to a great start and had a few great scoring chances on their first powerplay of the game, but were unable to beat Patrik Bartosak. Despite dominating for a good portion of the first period, it was the home town Red Deer Rebels opening the scoring. With just over 6 minutes to go in the period, Lukas Sutter beat Jonny Hogue with a backhander to make it 1-0 Rebels. A few minutes later the Rebels jumped ahead by a pair of goals when Mason McCarty scored his first-ever WHL goal to make it 2-0 Rebels. That was it for Hogue who was pulled after allowing 2 goals on 6 shots. Jarrod Schamerhorn came in to play the rest of the game. The Rebels carried that 2-0 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes of play even though Lethbridge narrowly outshot Red Deer 12-11.
In the second, the Hurricanes chipped their way back into the game. Riley Sheen (Brady Ramsay) picked off a pass and then slid the puck by Patrik Bartosak to cut the Rebels lead to 2-1. Red Deer managed to get that goal back a few minutes later when Brady Gaudet ripped a point shot, beating Schamerhorn on the power play. That made it 3-1 Rebels and it stayed that way until the final seconds of the period when Reid Nemeth took a feed from Jamal Watson (Lenny Hackman) and blasted a shot over the glove of Bartosak with 8.4 seconds left on the clock to make it a 3-2 lead for the Rebels after 40 minutes of play on Nemeth’s 3rd of the season.
In the third, the Hurricanes battled hard and came close a few times to evening up the score, but a pair of goals by Scott Feser in a span of 2:01 put this game away for Red Deer. The Rebels would skate away with 5-2 victory and their 4th win in 5 games against Lethbridge this season. Red Deer outshot the Canes 44-37 in this game and the Hurricanes went 0/4 on the powerplay; the Rebels were 1/4.
For game summary, click here
Tonight’s 3 Stars: 1 – Haydn Fleury, 2 – Reid Duke, 3 – Scott Feser
GAME NOTES: The Hurricanes continue to be a banged up squad and added Kolten Olynek and Bryton Sayers who were both sick. With all the injuries and illness, the Hurricanes recalled recently listed 6’4, 230 pound D-man Andrew Nielsen for his first ever WHL game (he wore #24).
Up Next: The Hurricanes road trip continues for four games through the BC Division. The Hurricanes are 0-5 against that division so far this season, but have a chance to right the ship starting Tuesday (8:00pm MST) when they visit the Prince George Cougars.
