Rebels start slow again, fall 5-1 in Edmonton
The Red Deer Rebels suffered another tough setback in Edmonton on Saturday with a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Oil Kings at Rogers Place.
For Red Deer, the matinée defeat marked the team’s third-straight after dropping losses to Vancouver and Medicine Hat earlier this week.
STATS STORY
Gracyn Sawchyn (EDM) – 1 goal, 1 assist
Ethan McKenzie (EDM) – 2 assists
Alex Worthington (EDM) – 28 saves
Hunter Mayo (RD) – 1 goal
HOW IT HAPPENED
Red Deer conceded the game’s first goal just past the four-minute mark with Gracyn Sawchyn tucking home a wrap-around to give the Oil Kings an early lead.
Gavin Hodnett and Roan Woodward both scored in the back half of the opening frame, with the Woodward’s goal coming on a powerplay in the final minute, and Edmonton took a three-goal lead into the break.
Red Deer replaced starter Chase Wutzke with Rhett Stoesser after the first period, and Stoesser was immediately tested thanks to an early Oil Kings man advantage. Edmonton made good on a four-on-four opportunity short thereafter with Cole Miller cashing in with his first goal of the season.
Landon Hanson extend the lead even further with a perfectly placed shot over Stoesser’s blocker, making the game 5-0 through 40 minutes.
The Rebels finally found the back of the net 1:45 into period three with Hunter Mayo attacking from the right wing boards and firing a perfectly-placed shot past Oil Kings goaltender Alex Worthington. Mayo’s third goal of the season ties him with Matthew Gard and Carson Birnie for the team lead.
Here's Mayo's third goal of the young season already!#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/qd2cb8VS8O
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 12, 2024
That’s a close as Red Deer would get as Worthington denied a handful of Rebels scoring chances the rest of the way.
Edmonton outshot Red Deer 30-29 on the night and was 1-for-4 on the power play while Red Deer was 0-for-3.
Red Deer falls to 4-3-1-0 with the loss while Edmonton improves to 2-3-0-1. The two teams will meet again next Sunday at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
THREE STARS
1. Sawchyn EDM
2. MacKenzie EDM
3. Miller EDM
NEXT UP
The Rebels visit the Calgary Hitmen this Wednesday, October 15 at 7 p.m. (106.7 Rewind Radio, CHL TV).