Rebels open 2025 with loss to Hitmen
The Red Deer Rebels opened the 2025 portion of their schedule with a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Hitmen.
In the second of four-straight at home, Carson Birnie and Jaxon Fuder lit the lamp for the Rebels Friday night at the Peavy Mart Centrium.
It’s the fifth loss in a row for Red Deer and their first in four meetings this season versus Calgary.
STATS STORY
Ben Kindel (CAL) – 3 assists
Jaxon Fuder (RD) – 1 goal (shorthanded), 1 assist
Ethan Moore (CGY) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Chase Wutzke (RD) – 36 saves
HOW IT HAPPENED
Calgary struck first in the Friday night tilt as Kalem Parker’s shot from the point beat Red Deer’s Chase Wutzke through traffic at the 3:10 mark.
In the second period, Calgary broke things open with three more tallies.
Dax Williams awaited a pass from Ben Kindel in the high slot then snapped a quick wrist shot top corner past Wutzke.
Fifty-one seconds later, Ethan Moore cashed in a Rebels turnover for a 3-0 Hitmen lead.
Sawyer Mayes capped off the second period scoring by batting in the rebound five minutes later to move the Hitmen ahead by four.
Red Deer’s opportunities were plentiful in the second, with 11 shots on net, but Calgary’s rookie goaltender, Anders Miller continued to deny the Rebels.
The Miller code was finally cracked in the third as the Rebels came to life when Carson Birnie put home a Jaxon Fuder rebound for his ninth goal of the season and 60th career point.
Make it 6⃣0⃣ for Birnie!
Carson Birnie earns his 60th WHL point getting the Rebs on the board! #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/twqeMVvMbv
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 4, 2025
The momentum was brief as Carter Yakemchuk scored six seconds in to a Calgary power play for a 5-1 Hitmen advantage.
On Calgary’s next power play, however, Jaxon Fuder ignited the building by stealing the puck at the Hitmen blue line and tucking it past Miller for Red Deer’s third shorthanded goal of the season.
Fuder's got moves! 🕺#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/ZBEJrJEZ88
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 4, 2025
But that’s as close as Red Deer would get as Oliver Tulk would add another power play goal for the Hitmen to round out the scoring on the night.
Calgary outshot Red Deer 42-34 and was 2-for-3 on the power play while Red Deer was 0-for-1.
Red Deer’s record now sits at 15-18-1-2, while Calgary improved to 20-11-3-1.
THREE STARS
- Kindel (CAL)
- Fuder (RD)
- Moore (CAL)
WHAT THEY SAID
Postgame comments from Rebels head coach Dave Struch…
NEXT UP
The Rebels continue their home stand against the Regina Pats on Saturday, January 4 at 7 P.M. at the Peavy Mart Centrium (TICKETS).
