Rebels rally past Broncos for 4-2 win
RED DEER – A mid-game surge powered the Red Deer Rebels past the Swift Current Broncos, earning a 4-2 victory on Saturday night at the Marchant Crane Centrium.
After Aleksey Chichkin opened the scoring in the first, a second-period rally from Kalder Varga and Owen DeWitt saw the Rebels pull away from the Broncos, as Talon Brigley added the finishing touch with an empty-net goal to seal the win.
The victory earns the Rebels two crucial points, moving them to 22-32-2-2 on the season and back into eighth place in the WHL Eastern Conference, one point ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Stats Story:
Aleksey Chichkin (RD) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Trae Wilke (SC) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Matej Mikes (RD) – 2 assists
How it Happened:
The Swift Current Broncos set the pace early as Hudson Darby jumped on a rebound and deked past Matthew Kondro for the first goal of the night.
Red Deer didn’t let that stand for long. With just over a minute left in the first, Aleksey Chichkin scooped the puck off the boards and fired it on net, ricocheting off a Bronco defender and into Archer Cooke’s net.
Aleksey Chichkin shooting for their ears!👂😍@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/3A3vThKUSU
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 1, 2026
Midway through the second, the Broncos regained the lead while shorthanded with Trae Wilke giving Swift Current the edge.
The Rebels answered almost immediately. With lightning reflexes, Kalder Varga knocked down Patrick Sopiarz’s rebound and netted the equalizer.
Lightning reflexes, goal-scoring instincts: Kalder Varga. ⚡#RDREBELS @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/ElFYGk4zxU
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 1, 2026
Owen DeWitt then became the difference maker, redirecting a point shot from Chichkin to give Red Deer a 3-2 lead heading out of the second.
Chichkin aimed, DeWitt delivered. Rebels’ magic in motion! 💥#RDREBELS @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/20KIKPjhjm
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 1, 2026
In the final frame, Talon Brigley put the exclamation point on the night, adding the empty-net goal to seal a 4-2 victory for the Rebels.
Kondro continued to prove to be steady in net as he made 19 saves and kept the Broncos at bay, while the Rebels tested Archer with 33 shots on goal.
Both squads shut out on the powerplay, Red Deer went 0-for-4, and Swift Current went 0-for-5.
Brandt Three Stars:
1. Varga (RD)
2. Mikes (RD)
3. Wilke (SC)
What They Said:
Marc Habscheid
Owen DeWitt
Notes:
Scratched for the game for Red Deer were Cameron Dillard and Cole Temple (lower) … The Rebels sweep their four-game season series versus the Broncos … attendance for the game was 3,400.
Next up:
Red Deer is hitting the road for one more trip to Saskatchewan as they get ready to battle the Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. at the Art Hauser Center (106.7 Rewind Radio/Victory+).
