Bounces, special teams sink Rebels in Saskatoon
The first Red Deer Rebels game in Saskatchewan this season did not go as planned, but not due to a lack of effort.
The club came out strong in the first period and led through 20 minutes until the host Saskatoon Blades stormed back for a 4-2 win over the Rebels Friday night in front of over 8,100 fans at SaskTel Centre.
Red Deer falls to 1-3-0-0 on the season while Saskatoon improves to 3-2-0-0.
STATS STORY:
Beckett Hamitlon (RD), 1 goal, 1 assist
Dustin Willhöft (SAS), 2 assists
Evan Gardiner (SAS), 21 saves, win
Zach Olsen (SAS), 1 goal, game-winner
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ty Coupland once again opened the scoring for the Rebels, as he deposited the puck into a wide-open net after a Beckett Hamilton point shot rebounded off the end boards right onto Coupland’s stick. His second in as many games came with 2:22 to play in the opening period. Defenceman Nate Yellowaga also picked up an assist for his first WHL point.
Hunter Laing tied the game for the Blades with a power play marker five minutes into the second period as he made good on a power play slapshot from the left faceoff circle, beating Rebels netminder Peyton Shore.
Saskatoon took the lead with another power play goal, this one being credited to Rowan Calvert with just two minutes to play in the second. Calvert’s centering pass bounced off the sticks of both Shore and Samuel Drancak before sneaking in just under the crossbar.
Zach Olsen made it a 3-1 Blades lead 4:46 into the third period, as he was able to knock home a puck after a scramble in front of Shore.
Beckett Hamilton halved the deficit less than a minute later, as he perfectly deflected a Keith McInnis point shot past Blades goalie Evan Gardner to register his first goal of the season.
The Blades regained their two-goal lead when Triston Mitchell-McElhone fired home a snapshot from the half wall at the 8:59 mark of the third. Shore had lost his trapper on the play and the Blades rookie took advantage beating him to the glove side after play was allowed to continue.
Shore made 29 saves in net for the Rebels while Gardner turned aside 24 shote for the Blades. Saskatoon was 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Rebels were 0-for-2.
BRANDT THREE STARS:
1. Hunter Laing (SAS)
2. Zach Olsen (SAS)
3. Beckett Hamilton (RD)
NEXT UP:
The Rebels wrap up their two-game Saskatchewan trip tomorrow night in Prince Albert. Puck drop at 7 pm as they visit the Raiders, which can be found live on 106.7 Rewind Radio, and Victory+.
Coach Habscheid on tonight’s game in Saskatoon #RDREBELS I #WHL pic.twitter.com/h3MDR4tJBy
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 4, 2025
(Xander Holcomb)
