Rebels drop home finale 4-1 to Hitmen
In a bittersweet end to their home campaign, the Red Deer Rebels were defeated by the Calgary Hitmen 4-1 at the Centrium in front of a raucous crowd of over 6,300.
Matthew Gard scored the lone Rebels goal while Chase Wutzke once again put on a stellar goaltending performance in his first start in nearly a month.
With four wins a piece, Red Deer and Calgary split their eight-game season series.
STATS STORY
Ethan Moore (CGY) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Chase Wutzke (RD) – 26 saves
Matthew Gard (RD) – 1 goal
HOW IT HAPPENED
Calgary opened the scoring on a first period power play as Sawyer Mynio’s pass banked off Ethan Moore’s skate and in.
Moore assisted on Calgary’s second goal of the game in the middle frame by Ethan Merner as he swiped Moore’s rebound at the 2:19 mark.
Early in the third, Carson Wetsch capitalized on a second chance to extend Calgary’s lead to three.
Red Deer got on the board less than two minutes later when Jhett Larson stripped the puck from a Calgary defender in the Rebels’ zone and went on to set up Matthew Gard for a shorthanded tally to make it a 3-1 game.
Shorthanded, Larson & Gard connect! 🚨#RDREBELS | #WHL https://t.co/rjLYTOFwFc
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 23, 2025
Hunter Aura’s shot from the point less than three minutes later found its way home for the game’s final goal.
Wutzke was stellar in his first start of March, stopping 26 shots. Calgary was 1-for-3 on the power play while Red Deer was 0-for-2.
🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥
Woah, woah, woah, WUTZKE.@RealCdnSS | @RebelsHockey | @MNWild | #SaveOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/WSs4nR3Tkb
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 23, 2025
THREE STARS
1. Weir (RD)
2. Larson (RD)
3. Dowhaniuk (RD)
WHAT THEY SAID
Rebels head coach Dave Struch…
NOTES
Out of the line-up for the Rebels were Jaxon Fuder (upper), Brett Calhoon, Parker MacDougall, Dmitri Toporowski and Jack Bousquet … attendance at the Centrium was 6,326 … Calgary starting netminder Daniel Hauser left the game after the first period and did not return. Anders Miller played periods two and three in relief … Prior to the game, the Rebels presented the 2024-25 player awards: Three Star Award – Chase Wutzke, Most Underrated Player – Jaxon Fuder, Players’ Award – Jhett Larson, Defenceman of the Year – Derek Thurston, Plus-Minus Award – Derek Thurston, Rookie of the Year – Beckett Hamilton, Scholastic Player of the Year – Luke Vlooswyk, Leading Scorer – Ty Coupland, Most Valuable Player(s) – Ollie Josephson and Chase Wutzke.
NEXT UP
Red Deer make the short trip to Edmonton for the final game of the 2024-25 season Sunday, March 23, at 4 P.M., against the Oil Kings at Rogers Place (WHL Live, 106.7 REWIND Radio).
