Rebels fall 5-2 at home to Blades

RED DEER – Another slow start proved fatal for the Red Deer Rebels as they fell 5-2 to the Saskatoon Blades Friday night at the Marchant Crane Centrium.

Owen DeWitt battled his way to the Rebels’ opening goal. Beckett Hamilton kept his touch alive as well, striking again to give Red Deer life and momentum. Between the pipes, Matthew Kondro turned aside 26 shots while weathering heavy pressure in the first to keep the Rebels within reach.

With the playoff race tightening, Red Deer now sits at 21-30-2-2, three points back of the Regina Pats and one point up on the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Stats Story:

Cooper Williams and Kazden Mathies (SASK) – 1 goal, 1 assist

David Lewandowski and Hunter Laing (SASK) – 2 assists

Beckett Hamilton (RD) – 1 goal, 20th of season

How it Happened:

The Rebels were forced to play catch-up early as the Blades struck three times in the opening eight minutes. Cooper Williams, Kazden Mathies and Jagger John each buried rebounds off Matthew Kondro to build a quick 3-0 edge.

With 3:38 left in the first, Aleksey Chichkin fired a shot toward Evan Gardner with Owen DeWitt battling in the blue paint. DeWitt muscled his way to the rebound and swiped it home to crack the ice and get the Rebels on the board.

DEWHO??? DEWHAT????@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/q3qyUoUi2p

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 21, 2026

Saskatoon restored its three-goal cushion early in the second when Mathies sprung Elias Pul on a break to make it 4-1.

The Rebels answered in a heartbeat. Just 23 seconds later, Beckett Hamilton shelved his 20th of the season, cutting the deficit back to two.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW.

Beckett Hamilton 2⃣0⃣th 💣 of the season!👏@Rebelshockey | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/o7Od14emE9

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 21, 2026

In the third, Rowan Calvert delivered a final dagger on a backdoor powerplay finish, putting the game out of reach.

Kondro was busy early, facing 17 shots in the opening frame, the workload eventually evened out with 31 shots total directed his way. At the other end, Gardner saw a steady eight shots per period, finishing the night with 24.

The only powerplay marker of the night came on Saskatoon’s man advantage, as the Blades went 1-for-5. The Rebels had three opportunities with the extra skater but were unable to convert.

Brandt Three Stars:

1. Williams (SASK)

2. DeWitt (RD)

3. Mathies (SASK)

What They Said:

Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid

Notes:

Beckett Hamilton has points in seven of eight and 16 of 19 (10G, 12A) … scratched for the game for Red Deer were Cameron Dillard, Cole Temple (lower), and Kohen Lodge (one of two game suspension) … attendance for the game was 3,762.

Next up:

A short road trip has the Rebels in Calgary on Sunday, February 22 with a 2 p.m. start to face the Hitmen (Rewind 106.7/Victory+)