Another three-goal third lifts Rebels past Raiders, again
RED DEER – The Red Deer Rebels picked up their second win in four days over the WHL Eastern Conference-leading Prince Albert Raiders Saturday night at the Marchant Crane Centrium.
And once again they did it in dramatic fashion. Scoring three unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes, the Rebels battled their way to a hard-earned 3-1 victory, giving the crowd of 4,831 plenty to cheer about in a gritty comeback performance.
Red Deer stayed within striking distance all night before breaking through late in the third period. Beckett Hamilton sparked the rally by tying the game, Owen DeWitt followed with the go-ahead goal to bring the crowd to its feet and Matej Mikes put an exclamation point on the night with an empty-net marker.
“The people got their money’s worth. Tonight was a good game,” said Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid.
The victory also carried weight in the standings. The Moose Jaw Warriors had moved ahead of Red Deer in the playoff race, but the Rebels’ win leapfrogged them back in front.
Red Deer improved to 24-34-2-2 on the season, while Prince Albert fell to 46-10-5-1, evening the season series at two wins apiece.
Stats Story:
Matej Mikes (RD) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Matthew Kondro (RD) – 28 saves, 1 assist, win
Beckett Hamilton (RD) – 1 goal
Owen DeWitt (RD) – 1 goal
How it Happened:
The Rebels and Raiders met for the second time in five days and just like the first meeting, the script delivered physical play, quality chances, and two teams refusing to give an inch.
The two squads picked up where they left off in the first when Patrick Sopiarz and Justice Christensen dropped the gloves at centre ice, igniting the building and setting the stage for another contested battle between the two clubs. Despite the early spark, neither side was able to break through offensively, sending the game to the second period scoreless.
The deadlock finally broke in the middle frame. With the Raiders on the powerplay, Christensen walked the blue line before snapping a shot through traffic and past Rebels goaltender Matthew Kondro to give Prince Albert a 1-0 lead.
From there, the Raiders looked poised to grind out the result, carrying the lead deep into the third period. But the Rebels had other plans.
With 7:14 remaining, a Red Deer powerplay chanced everything.
Poul Andersen moved the puck across to Beckett Hamilton at the top of the zone, and Hamilton drove wide before circling the net and throwing the puck toward goal. In the scramble around the crease, the puck slipped through Raiders netminder, Steele Bass, and across the line, tying the game and breathing new life into the Rebels.
BECKETT HAMILTON!!! TIES THE GAME!!!@Rebelshockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/vcghlx4O6R
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 8, 2026
Just over three minutes later, Matej Mikes fired a puck toward the net where Owen DeWitt was waiting at the top of the crease. DeWitt got a piece of it, tipping the puck past Bass to give the Rebels the lead.
OWEN DEWITT AT THE DOORSTEP!! THE REBELS TAKE THE LEAD LATE IN THE THIRD!!! 😤@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/kM26wtnhdC
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 8, 2026
Prince Albert pressed late but the Rebels sealed the comeback in the final minute. With 40 seconds on the clock, Mikes won a race to a loose puck and buried it into the empty net to cap off the three-goal surge.
Kondro was steady all night for Red Deer, turning aside 28 shots and making several key stops in the final minutes, even picking up an assist on the empty-net marker. Bass made 19 saves for the Raiders.
Red Deer finished 1-for-6 on the powerplay, while Prince Albert converted once on four opportunities.
What They Said:
Marc Habscheid
Beckett Hamilton
Brandt Three Stars:
1. Hamilton (RD)
2. Kondro (RD)
3. Mikes (RD)
Notes:
The Rebels have won three games this season when training through two periods, including two this week versus the Raiders, who have lost only three games this season when ahead through 40 minutes … Scratched for the game for Red Deer were Tyson Yaremko (upper) and Cameron Dillard … Attendance for the game was 4,831 … The game was played on Red Deer Carpet One Bobblehead Night where the first 1,500 fans received a collectible bobblehead honoring former Rebels goalie Darcy Kuemper.
Next up:
The Red Deer Rebels will play their final out-of-conference game of the season on Tuesday, March 10, when the Wenatchee Wild visit the Marchant Crane Centrium for a 7 p.m. puck drop (TICKETS).
