Rebels down Pats 5-2 for second-straight win
RED DEER – After taking three out of a possible four points during a midweek trip to Saskatchewan, the Rebels returned home Friday to battle the Regina Pats.
Multi-point games from Beckett Hamilton, Matthew Gard, Landon MacSwain, and Talon Brigley pushed the Rebels to a 5-2 victory over the Pats.
Goaltender Matthew Kondro was recalled from Lloydminster (AJHL) prior to the game, and made 25 saves to earn his first WHL win.
Special teams were a point of pride for the Rebels tonight, going 2-for-3 on the power play, and holding the Pats to 1-for-4 on their opportunities.
“[Special teams have] been much improved, I think last four or five games have been much better. Players have been doing a good job. Clayton and Mike have been doing a good job for the team, so that’s a big part of the game,” said head coach Marc Habscheid.
The win came on the same day the Rebels made a pair of trades – one to acquire 20-year-old defenceman Aleksey Chichkin from the Prince George Cougars and another to acquire hometown 17-year-old forward Kohen Lodge from the Saskatoon Blades.
STATS STORY:
Beckett Hamilton (RD): 1 goal, 2 assists
Matthew Gard and Talon Brigley (RD): 1 goal, 1 assist
Talon Brigley (RD): 1 goal, 1 assist
Julien Maze (REG): 1 goal, 1 assist
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Regina opened the scoring with an early powerplay, when Julien Maze found some open ice, and beat Rebels starting goaltender Matthew Kondro with a backhand shot. Maze’s sixth of the season came just 4:01 into the opening period.
Talon Brigley responded for the Rebels, as he beat out an icing before tucking a wraparound past Pats netminder Marek Schlenker, tying the game at 1-1 8:25 into the first.
Matthew Gard struck for the Rebels with just 3 seconds to play in the first, as he jumped on a loose puck in the Pats crease. Initially being waved off, Gard’s fifth goal of the season was awarded after a length review, making it a 2-1 Rebels lead through the opening period.
The Pats tied it back up at 2-2 seven minutes into the second period as Zachary Lansard found some open ice, and converted on a breakaway during 4-on-4 play.
The Rebels power play struck again with six minutes to play in the second, putting the Rebels up 3-2. This time Keith McInnis put home a puck that found itself loose at the top of the crease during another scramble in front of Schlenker. The Red Deer native now has three goals so far this season.
Landon MacSwain sealed the deal with an empty-net tally to make it a 4-2 game with two minutes to play. Beckett Hamilton would add his own to make it a 5-2 final.
Matthew Kondo made 25/27 saves in net for the Rebels, while Marek Schlenker made 22/25 for the Pats.
BRANDT THREE STARS:
1. Talon Brigley (RD)
2. Julien Maze (REG)
3. Matthew Gard (RD)
WHAT THEY SAID
Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid…
NEXT UP
The Rebels are back at home tomorrow as the Calgary Hitmen visit the Marchant Crane Centrium for the first time this season. Puck drop goes at 6pm, and is live on 106.7 Rewind Radio, and for free on Victory+.
(Xander Holcomb)
