Rebels seek to build and maintain momentum through March and beyond
It’s time to make hay.
Coming off a convincing 7-3 win over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes on Family Day and with 12 games remaining on their WHL Regular Season schedule, the Red Deer Rebels have to take advantage of their momentum in an attempt to move up the Eastern Conference standings.
That has to start Saturday when the Rebels host the Wenatchee Wild.
Red Deer and Swift Current are tied for fourth spot in the conference with the Broncos having a game in hand. In order to surpass the Broncos and earn home-ice advantage in the opening playoff round, the Rebels will almost certainly need a winning record down the stretch.
Certainly, the March 1 head-to-head at the Peavey Mart Centrium and the March 20 meeting in Swift Current loom as four-pointers, and may indeed determine which team gains that home-ice advantage.
The Rebels are also within reach of third place in the conference, four points back of the Moose Jaw Warriors, and are six in arrears of Medicine Hat for second place in the conference and top spot in the Central Division, though catching the Tigers might be a stretch. Time will tell.
There are personal agendas on the line as well.
Rebels captain Kai Uchacz is enjoying a second straight outstanding season with 38 goals and will have to average a goal-per-game to again reach the 50-goal mark.
Frantisek Formanek with 16 goals, Talon Brigley and Kalan Lind each with 14, are closing in on the 20-goal mark. Carson Birnie, with 13, and Jhett Larson, with 12, are a bit further back.
Meanwhile, rookie goaltender Chase Wutzke will have an opportunity to build on his impressive season and increase his chances of being selected in this year’s NHL Draft. The Debden, SK is seventh in the league with a 2.60 goals-against average and his save percentage of .911 is eighth best.
On the back end, Mats Lindgren, with 34 points (7 goals,17 assists) has a chance to top his season-best 44 he recorded with the Kamloops Blazers in 2021-22.
Elias Carmichael can continue to build on his Rebels plus-minus lead. He’s currently plus-13, just ahead of Uchacz and Formanek, both at plus-12.
Notable: Following Saturday’s contest, the Rebels will head east Monday for games Tuesday in Saskatoon and Wednesday in Prince Albert. Red Deer will then return home and face the Calgary Hitmen and Broncos next Friday and Saturday at the Peavey Mart Centrium, capping a four-games-in-five-nights stretch . . . This Saturday’s game versus Wenatchee doubles as the latest “Beer Night” with fans able to enjoy two domestic cans for just $10 . . . . The latest Red Deer Rebels bobblehead, presented by Carpet One Red Deer, will be unveiled on Tuesday. Just 1,500 of these bobbleheads will be available to fans attending our Friday, March 1 home game versus Swift Current. Several notable Rebels alumni – including this year’s bobblehead player himself – will be in attendance that night. Stay tuned! . . . The winning Rebels entry for this year’s Real Canadian Superstore Jersey Design contest will also be unveiled next week. Since the contest was first introduced during the 2020-21 season, the CHL and Real Canadian Superstore have raised over $375,000 for President’s Choice Children’s Charity. Each year, fans aged 16 and under are encouraged to submit their jersey design. The Rebels will wear this year’s winning design when they host the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday, March 2 at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
(Photo by Taylor Lachance)
