Last-minute goal caps comeback win for Rebels over Brandon
The Red Deer Rebels continue to make the best of home cooking.
Though it wasn’t easy Saturday night as it took a last-minute goal help knock off the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-2 in front of 4,153 emphatic fans at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
Red Deer improves to 12-10-1-2 on the season, including 9-2-1-0 at home, as they now get ready for a four-game eastern road trip.
“We had a really good game yesterday. I think we were slow today, but we got back to what we were doing yesterday, and it ended up working out for us,” said Rebels captain Ollie Josephson.
STATS STORY
Jaxon Fuder (RD) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Talon Brigley (RD) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Chase Wutzke (RD) – 30 saves, win
Caleb Hadland (BDN) – 1 goal
HOW IT HAPPENED
Brandon converted on a late first period powerplay as Nicholas Johnson beat Wutzke for his seventh goal of the year.
Sylvan Lake native Caleb Hadland’s goal just 15 seconds into the middle frame, resulting from a Rebels gaff near their net, gave the Wheat Kings a 2-0 lead.
The Rebels got on the board midway through period two with a power play goal from Talon Brigley as he tipped the puck out of midair and past Brandon goalie Ethan Eskit.
Talon "Mike Trout" Brigley brings the Rebels back within a goal with a bunt you'll want to watch again ⚾️#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/nNgegdjEyw
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 1, 2024
Red Deer pushed in the third period and eventually found the equalizing goal off the stick of Beckett Hamilton, with the rookie scoring on a wraparound play that was initially ruled no goal before the call was overturned following a lengthy review. Hamilton now has six goals on the season.
It took some time, but the game's all tied!
Watch Hamilton's 2-2 goal⬇️#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/h0Weo4khvz
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 1, 2024
Red Deer carried the momentum from the goal and peppered the Brandon net with shots to try and take their first lead of the game. It took until the game’s final minute, but the Rebels got that lead when Jaxon Fuder put home a rebound from the top of the crease to make it 3-2 Rebels.
Your game-winner 🎉#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/JB5NeCggyZ
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 1, 2024
Hunter Mayo’s empty-net goal on the next shift ended things at 4-2.
Brandon outshot Red Deer 32-29 on the night while both teams were 1-for-2 on the power play.
THREE STARS
1. Wutzke (RD)
2. Johnson (BDN)
3. Hamilton (RD)
WHAT THEY SAID
“We weren’t worried. We know our game. It was just about doing little things right. Little things lead to the bigger things, the goals, all that. So, we had confidence in ourselves,” Josephson said of his team overcoming a two-goal deficit to earn the victory.
Here is what head coach Dave Struch said of tonight’s game…
NOTES
The Rebels have won their last five outings at the Peavey Mart Centrium … After going without a point in nine games, Talon Brigley have five in his last two (1 goal, 4 assists) … All five of Jaxon Fuder’s assists this season have come on the power play, including one Saturday, to lead the team in that category … Kalan Lind served the third and final game of his suspension and is eligible to return to the Rebels lineup Tuesday … Matteo Fabrizi (upper), Kasper Pikkarainen (lower) and Jhett Larson (upper) all missed the game due to injury … Wheat Kings defenceman Dylan Ronald, from nearby Clive, Alberta, had about 50 family and friends at Saturday’s game.
NEXT UP
The Rebels head East for a four-games-in-five-nights road trip that starts Tuesday at Prince Albert. It continues Wednesday in Saskatoon, Friday in Brandon and concludes next Saturday in Swift Current.
