Captain Uchacz records hat trick in win over Oil Kings
Rebels 4 Oil Kings 1
The Red Deer Rebels looked like a team that had played the night before.
The Rebels didn’t have the same jump they did in Friday’s win over the visiting Tri-City Americans, but managed to post a 4-1 WHL win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday before 3,759 fans at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
“Back to back nights, a lot of hockey over the last couple of days, but we found our way,” said head coach Derrick Walser. “It wasn’t our best performance but we found a way to take care of pucks in the second and third periods and generated a lot of chances.”
Captain Kai Uchacz recorded a hat trick to run his season goal total to 25.
“I thought we played pretty solid throughout the whole game,” said Uchacz. “Through 60 I thought we played a pretty consistent, decent game. It was good to see from the guys.”
Following a scoreless opening period, the Rebels struck five minutes into the middle frame when Frantisek Formanek carried the puck from behind the net and passed over to Uchacz, who tapped it home from the edge of the crease.
Ty Nash pulled the visitors even just over five minutes later following a turnover at the Edmonton blueline. Nash hauled in a drop pass from Grayson Sawchyn and beat netminder Chase Wutzke from the low slot.
“One thing we probably could have cleaned up maybe is turnovers. In the second period, we were pretty loose there,” said Uchacz.
The Rebels leader notched the eventual winner, on the power play, late in the period, wiring a shot to the top corner from high in the right circle.
The third period was scoreless until the Rebels sealed the deal with two empty-net markers, at 18:14 and then 45 seconds later.
Dwayne Jean Jr, outraced an Oil Kings defender to pot the first empty-netter and Uchacz scored from centre ice to complete his hat trick.
“I challenged him tonight,” Walser said of his captain. “I really wanted him to lead us tonight and he stepped big.
“Those are big moments. He plays such an important role. He plays in every situation for us and when he’s leading the way we end up following him pretty well.”
The Rebels were stellar on the penalty kill, erasing all five Oil Kings man advantage opportunities while going one-for-four with their own power play.
Walser credited assistant coaches Mike Egener and Clayton Beddoes for the fine special teams performance, as well as Wutzke who posted his 10th win of the season with a 28-save outing.
“Great work from Clayton and the group, Egs getting the PK going, and obviously your best penalty killer is your goalie and he did an awesome job again,” said the Rebels bench boss.
“You have to outwork the power play, if you do that you have a good chance of killing it. Your goalie is always the star in that, and again, it’s preparation. I thought Egs had them prepared tonight for what we wanted to do, as well as the power play for Clayton.
“We’re starting to get in synch. Our main focus is to get things (both special teams) going in the right direction.”
Uchacz was an obvious choice for first star, while Oil Kings netminder Kolby Hay was selected as the game’s second star. Hay was the visitors’ best player, turning aside 37 shots.
The Edmonton goalie robbed the Rebels on several occasions. Included among his many impressive saves were a pair of big stops in the second period when he stoned Jeramiah Roberts who broke in alone and then denied Evan Smith on the rebound.
Next up for the Rebels is a Wednesday home date with the Eastern Conference leading Saskatoon Blades, a big test in itself.
“They’re a good group, they’re ranked pretty high in the CHL and within our league,” said Uchacz.
“For us, it’s kind of all about putting this one in the past almost, remembering it but being able to recover, regroup, have a good day of rest and getting ready to play them because they are a good team.”
Notable: Rebels defenceman Mats Lindgren picked up a pair of assists and was named third star of the game . . . Uchacz passed Jon Zukiwsky into 8th on the Rebels all-time goal list with 89 . . . Netminder Rhett Stoesser and forward Carson Birnie both sat out with day-today injuries, as did overage forward Carson Latimer, who’s been out since late November with a lower body injury and is expected back by the end of the month. Taylor Tabashniuk served as Wutzke’s backup for the second night in a row and will return to his U18AAA team in Regina once Stoesser is ready to go . . . The Rebels, who have now won four games in succession, will face the Tigers in Medicine Hat next Friday and will host the Prince Albert Raiders the following night.
(Photos by Taylor Lachance)
