Kondro conquers Tigers, Rebels win in overtime
RED DEER – On this Friday the 13th Matthew Kondro was the one haunting the Medicine Hat Tigers.
When the dust settled on Western Night at the Marchant Crane Centrium, the Red Deer Rebels rode off with a big 5-4 overtime win over the Tigers.
On any other night, Beckett Hamilton’s four-point (2G, 2A) night would steal the spotlight, but the real sheriff in town was Matthew Kondro, standing tall in net with 54 saves.
Poul Andersen roped in the overtime winner, while Talon Brigley and Nate Yellowaga also added goals to keep the scoreboard humming.
The win pushes Red Deer to 20-28-2-2 and hands Medicine Hat their fourth overtime loss of the season, leaving the Tigers at 36-9-4-3. The Rebels remain one point ahead of the Regina Pats for eight place in the WHL Eastern Conference and one back of the Moose Jaw Warriors for seventh.
Stats Story:
Matthew Kondro (RD) – 54 saves, win
Beckett Hamilton (RD) – 2 goals, 2 assists
Noah Davidson (MH) – 2 goals, 1 assist
Poul Andersen (RD) – 1 goal (OT Winner), 1 assist
Patrick Sopiarz (RD) – 2 assists
How it Happened:
Midway through the first, the Rebels sent the puck deep, tempting Tigers’ goalie Carter Casey out of his crease. A misplay bounced right to Owen DeWitt, who banked it off the boards for Beckett Hamilton to tuck home the opener.
BECKETT HAMILTON KICKS IT OFF IN RED DEER!👀@Rebelshockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/wtsyakqa3f
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 14, 2026
Medicine Hat answered with under a minute left in the frame as Noah Davidson’s one-timer beat Matthew Kondro to even the score 1-1.
Early in the second, the Ruck brothers combined for the Tigers as Markus found the top shelf to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Again, late in the period, the Rebels had an answer of their own when they found themselves on a two-man advantage. From the goal line Talon Brigley snapped a shot in off of a Tigers defender to tie it 2-2.
TALON BRIGLEY🫡🫡🫡@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/7VpY31qdBV
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 14, 2026
The third opened fast as Poul Andersen fed Nate Yellowaga at the point, and he buried a powerplay snipe to give Red Deer the lead.
LIGHT WORK, NO REACTION.
Nate Yellowaga takes the lead!👏👏@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/dbRX5X1Vcy
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 14, 2026
The Rebels only held the edge for 32 seconds before Yaroslav Bryzgalov found the back of the net to tie it 3-3.
With eight minutes to go, Hamilton struck again, taking a perfect pass from Patrick Sopiarz and sniping from the circle to put the Rebels back on top.
Late in the period, however, Davidson tipped home an Andrew Basha’s point shot, setting the stage for overtime.
In OT, the chances went both ways but it was the 2-on-1 of Hamilton and Andersen who brought the barn to their feet as Hamilton slid the puck to Andersen, who buried the game-winner.
UPSET ALERT🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
Poul Andersen scores in OT to secure a Rebels win!👏🤠@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/Z1Yonihs8L
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 14, 2026
Medicine Hat outshot Red Deer 58-24 in the game. Red Deer converted 2-of-4 power plays while shutting down both of Medicine Hat’s chances.
Brandt Three Stars:
1. Kondro (RD)
2. Davidson (MH)
3. Hamilton (RD)
What They Said:
Marc Habscheid
Beckett Hamilton
Notes:
Hamilton has points in five-straight and 14 of 16 games … Brigley has points in five-straight (3G, 2A), Andersen has points in four-straight and six of eight (3G, 4A), Varga has points in two-straight and four of five (1G, 4A), Nate Yellowaga has points in nine of 11 (3G, 7A)… scratched for the game for Red Deer were Cameron Dillard, Cole Temple (lower), and Grayden Peterson … Tigers captain Bryce Pickford missed his eight-straight game due to a upper body injury … attendance for the game was 4035.
Next up:
The annual Sockey Day in Red Deer in support of United Way Central Alberta is coming to the Marchant Crane Centrium on Sunday, February 15, when the Rebels host the Lethbridge Hurricanes at 4 p.m. (TICKETS) The game is followed by the Paint The Ice party, presented by NOVA Chemicals.
