Rebels downed 8-2 by Oil Kings
The Red Deer Rebels have seen about enough of the Edmonton Oil Kings after they were downed 8-2 by their northern rivals Sunday at Rogers Place.
Edmonton sweeps the weekend home-and-home series and have now won nine-straight over Red Deer dating back to last season. The two teams don’t meet again until February.
STATS STORY
Joe Iginla (EDM) – 3 goals
Gracyn Sawchyn (EDM) – 3 assists
Carson Birnie (RD) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Kalan Lind (RD) – 2 assists
HOW IT HAPPENED
The goal lights were working hard early as the Rebels and Oil Kings piled up six total goals in the first 20 minutes.
Oil Kings Captain Gavin Hodnett opened the scoring 3:01 into the game with a powerplay goal.
Things turned in Red Deer’s favour after that as the road team struck for two goals in a 1:04 span.
First, Jake Missura fired a shot from the point, deflecting off a skate to Birnie who slid it past Edmonton goalie Alex Worthington. The goal marked Birnie’s first point in five games.
Weekend of Birnie! #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/ke6CpB0QUn
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 29, 2024
On the very next play, Birnie led a 3-on-2 into Oil Kings territory and flipped a perfect pass to Ollie Josephson which the Rebels captain cashed in for his eighth goal of the season.
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 29, 2024
Unfortunately, Red Deer’s lead lasted all of 36 seconds as Edmonton’s Roan Woodward put home a rebound past Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke.
Marshall Finnie put the Oil Kings back in the lead as he beat Wutzke from just outside the goal crease. Joe Iginla added a power play goal a few minutes leader for a 4-2 Edmonton lead through 20.
In the second period, the Oil King’s 15-year-old first round draft pick, Kayden Straeder, beat Wutzke short side for a 5-2 lead. Iginla added his second of the game before Roan Woodward scored a shorthanded marker for a 7-2 Edmonton lead through two periods.
Peyton Shore took over in net for Red Deer in period three and kept a clean sheet until Iginla scores his hat trick goal with 1:41 left to play.
Edmonton outshot Red Deer 42-22 and was 2-for-6 on the power play while the Rebels were 0-for-2.
THREE STARS
- Iginla (EDM)
- Woodward (EDM)
- G. Sawchyn (EDM)
NOTABLES
Rebels scratches for the game were Hunter Mayo (suspension), Steven Steranka (scratch), Kasper Pikkarainen (lower), Jhett Larson (upper), and Jack Bousquet (scratch) … Kalan Lind assisted on both Rebels goals for his second-straight two point outing … Attendance for the game at Rogers Place was 7,828.
NEXT UP
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are blowing into Red Deer on Monday, December 30, for a 7 P.M. start at the Peavy Mart Centrium (TICKETS).
