Rebels comeback falls short in 3-2 shootout loss to Calgary
CALGARY, AB – Despite a furious third period comeback, the Red Deer Rebels opened up their 2026-2027 regular season with a 3-2 shootout loss at the hands of the Hitmen in Calgary.
The Rebels trailed by a pair the first period before finding their legs in the second and scoring twice early in the third to send this one to extra time and earn a single point.
In what was their final home opener at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Hitmen got on the board early in the first as Charlie Kresl tucked a rebound past Rebels netminder Matthew Kondro for his first WHL goal.
Brennan Brown made it 2-0 on a power play just over ten minutes later.
After a scoreless second period that saw the Rebels outshoot the Hitmen 17-7, Cameron Kuzma finally solved Calgary goaltender Eric Tu with a sharp angle shot early in the third period.
KUZZZZZZ!!! 🗣️
Cameron Kuzma finds the back of the net with a sharp angle shot @Rebelshockey | #WHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/rezMXTCUiw
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) September 19, 2026
Just minutes later, Kohen Lodge tied the game at 2-2 on the man advantage – Red Deer’s lone power play marker of the night.
It took just one night for the Western Hockey League’s new ‘no return’ overtime to rule to be put into practice as 60 minutes wasn’t enough to decide a winner. Despite plenty of chances at both ends, the new rule did not produce a goal, sending the game to a shootout.
Hitmen forward Artem Katsuro scored the lone goal in the shootout, sealing the 3-2 victory for Calgary.
Red Deer outshot Calgary 37-27, with both teams going 1-for-4 on the power plays.
NOTES – The Rebels opened the season without Captain Beckett Hamilton (Colorado Avalanche Camp), who will also miss Red Deer’s Home Opener on Saturday night. Friday marked the first Western Hockey League game for a trio of Rebels: Luke Jamieson, Paxson Madill and Zeb Lindgren, with Madill and Lindgren both picking up their first WHL point. Defenceman Graeme Pickering also notched his first WHL point with an assist on Lodge’s goal.
NEXT UP – The Rebels host the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday, September 19 at 6 p.m. for the Red Deer Advocate Home Opener at the Marchant Crane Centrium, and will be back on the road to face the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday, September 25 at 7 p.m. before coming back home to welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Centrium on Saturday, September 26 at 6 p.m.
