Rebels survive slow start to down Calgary for fourth-straight win
The Red Deer Rebels overcame a sluggish start to down the Calgary Hitmen 5-2 at the Peavey Mart Centrium Saturday night.
The win, Red Deer’s fourth-straight, puts the club in first place in the WHL Central Division and based on points percentage (.900), tops in the Eastern Conference.
“It could have been a bit of an emotional let down from last night, but really we left it to the players between periods, leadership took over,” said Rebels head coach Dave Struch.
“They stayed calm. And the second 20 (minutes), we were better. And then the third, I thought it was really good.”
STATS STORY
Ollie Josephson – RD – 1 goal (PP), 2 assists
Steven Steranka – RD – 1 goal, 1 assist
Matteo Fabrizi – RD – 1 goal, 1 assist
Talon Brigley (RD), Connor Hvidston (CGY), Oliver Tulk (CGY) – 2 assists each
HOW IT HAPPENED
Red Deer yet again got out to an early lead as Steven Steranka jammed a puck past Eric Tu for his first goal in the Western Hockey League. Two-and-a-half minutes into the game it was 1-0.
From behind the net!!👀 Steranka finds his first @TheWHL goal! pic.twitter.com/VfcTT9BBbY
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 6, 2024
But Calgary would reply while on a power play as a wrister from the left point from Reese Hamilton found its way past Rhett Stoesser. The goal withstood review for a potential high stick and the game went to the intermission nodded at a goal apiece.
Red Deer retook the lead just 3:04 into the middle frame as Cohen Poulin tipped home a perfect pass from Matteo Fabrizi for his second tally of the season. Steranka also assisted on the goal for his second point of the night.
Cohen Poulin gets a stick on it!@Rebelshockey pic.twitter.com/cLjo5ncAYE
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 6, 2024
Ollie Josephson made it a 3-1 game with one of the best shots you’ll see this season. The Captain ripped the puck past Tu high to the short side for a power play tally 10:47 into the middle stanza.
🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥
Chef’s Kiss 💋@Rebelshockey | @SeattleKraken | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/cifWUt1VFd
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 6, 2024
Just over four minutes into period three, Fabrizi continued his red-hot start to the season with his second goal and sixth point of the year for a 4-1 Rebels lead.
With the Hitmen on a late power play, rookie blue liner Hunter Aura saw his point shot deflect off a Rebels defender and in for his first WHL goal, cutting the Rebels lead to 4-2.
But a final minute empty netter from Carson Birnie sealed the deal for his club’s 5-2 triumph.
THREE STARS
- Josephson – RD
- Fabrizi – RD
- Steranka – RD
WHAT THEY SAID
“We got a chance to use all of our lines. Everybody played, played well. (Evan) Smith, Steranka and Poulin were fantastic for us tonight. They gave our other lines an opportunity to get the rest that they needed. It was a good win.” – Struch
“I mean, obviously not the start we wanted. I think we were playing a little soft and slow, not how we want to play. But in the second and third, I thought we took over with our hard plays, hard on pucks, and we were moving our feet, so it was a good way to finish the game.” – Josephson
NEXT UP
The Rebels are back on home ice Tuesday, October 8 versus the Vancouver Giants starting at 7 p.m. The following night the Rebels head back to Medicine Hat for another tilt with the Tigers.
