Rebels clinch playoff berth with convincing win over Hitmen
Rebels 5 Hitmen 2
The Red Deer Rebels clinched a WHL playoff berth Saturday and they accomplished the feat in convincing fashion.
Unlike several of their eight wins over the Calgary Hitmen this season, the Rebels were dominant in every area of the game in a 5-2 victory witnessed by 4,907 fans at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
“They played great. We had a little lapse there near the end of the second period but other than that they played real well,” said Dave Struch, who is 3-0 since taking over as head coach.
“Since I’ve been there that was our best first period at a big time of the season. We had a big effort from everybody.”
The Rebels did indeed dominate the opening frame but were rewarded just once when Hunter Mayo scored with a wrister from the high slot just over two minutes into the contest.
Dwayne Jean Jr. upped the count to 2-0 early in the middle frame, connecting from the left circle, then added his fifth of the season just over seven minutes later, converting a nifty feed from rookie Jeramiah Roberts.
“To see those two go in the back of the net . . . it’s been awhile for myself,” said Jean Jr. “My linemates really brought it tonight and I had to get up to their standards right from the puck drop.
“I have to give credit to my teammates.”
Talon Brigley added to the Rebels lead a minute later, jamming the puck past netminder Ethan Buenaventura from the side the net.
The visitors got a power play marker from Maxim Muranov late in the period, but rookie Matthew Gard restored Red Deer’s four-goal lead at 13:38 of the third period, burying a long rebound of a shot by Roberts, who picked up three assists on the evening and was named first star.
The Hitmen added a late man advantage goal by Keets Fawcett, but the outcome was never in doubt.
So far, the Rebels are playing with the same passion and style that Struch has adopted over his 17 previous years coaching in the league.
“They’re skating hard, they’re playing physical, they’re competing,” he said. “When they make mistakes they try and do the right things and recover. They’re supporting each other defensively and that’s how you win hockey games, it doesn’t matter who you play.
“We’re blocking shots, getting sticks in lanes and going hard to the net. It’s winning hockey. There’s no special formula. The guys are doing a good job.”
Jean Jr. has been impressed with the new bench boss to date.
“Dave really knows what he’s doing. He’s going to tell you how it is, he’s going to tell you the truth,” said the veteran forward.
“You could just tell from the first day when he entered the room that he means business, that we’re here to make a long run in the playoffs.
“The practices are harder but it’s for a good reason.”
The Rebels have five regular season games remaining and will have to keep the pedal to the metal to properly prepare for the playoffs.
“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just do the same things over and over,” said Struch. “We get real good at doing this and we’ll get rewarded for it. Come playoff time you have to win hockey games like this.”
Notable: Rhett Stoesser wasn’t overly busy in the Red Deer net but was sharp while making 23 saves. Buenaventura turned aside 32 shots for the Hitmen, including several of the difficult variety . . . Jean Jr. was named second star of the contest while Mayo was selected as third star . . . The Rebels were minus the services of feisty forward Frantisek Formanek, who suffered an upper body injury in Friday’s 4-3 win over the Hitmen in Calgary. He’s listed as day-to-day for now . . . The Hitmen were two-for-six on the power play, the Rebels zero-for-two . . . The Rebels return to action next weekend with a home-and-home with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Friday in Lethbridge and Saturday at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
(Photos by Taylor Lachance)
