Red Deer downed 4-1 in Lethbridge
The Red Deer Rebels were downed 4-1 on the road in Lethbridge on Friday night.
Playing with 11 forwards and three centres, including one playing up the middle for the first time this season and one making his Rebels debut, the Rebels held the Hurricanes at bay until they pulled away with three goals in the third period.
Red Deer suffered its third-straight loss in falling to 14-13-1-2 (31 points) on the season while Lethbridge improved to 16-10-1-1 (34 points) with its fourth-straight win.
STATS STORY
Shane Smith (LET) – 2 assists
Trae Wilke (RD) – 1 goal
Jackson Unger (LET) – 1 assist, 15 saves, win
Chase Wutzke (RD) – 25 saves
HOW IT HAPPENED
Less than two minutes into the game, Lethbridge was on the board with a shorthanded goal by Brayden Edwards.
Trae Wilke answered back as he sniped Red Deer’s only goal of the night passed Lethbridge netminder, Jackson Unger. Wilke’s quick release off of a draw won by newly acquired Cole Peardon earned Peardon his first point with his new club.
We like it, we love it! #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/qx3pZT550U
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 14, 2024
Nothing much at all happened in period two with Lethbridge outshooting Red Deer 6-3 in the frame.
The game was decided midway through the third period as Lethbridge’s Trae Johnson managed to slide the puck passed Wutzke while tied up by two Rebels defenders.
Hayden Pakkala added an insurance goal on the powerplay just over two minutes later. Logan Wormald added a long distance empty netter with under two minutes left to play.
TheRebels were shut out on four powerplay attempts, though one lasted just three seconds at the end of the game, while Lethbridge was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.
THREE STARS
1. Johnson (LET)
2. Smith (LEt)
3. Wutzke (RD)
WHAT THEY SAID
Coach Struch on tonight’s setback in Lethbridge #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/fUQtKIcLzd
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) December 14, 2024
NOTEWORTHY
Rebels scratches for the game were Samuel Drancak (upper), Ollie Josephson (upper), Kasper Pikkarainen (lower), Jett Larson (upper), and Hunter Mayo (lower) … Red Deer is now 1-2-1-0 versus Lethbridge this season with the next meeting set for Dec. 30 at the Peavey Mart Centrium … Attendance Friday at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena was 3557.
NEXT UP
The Rebels return to the Peavy Mart Centrium for a Saturday night showdown with the Kamloops Blazers. Puck drops at 7 P.M. on December 14 (TICKETS). It’s the annual Toque and Teddy Bear Toss in support of the Red Deer Christmas Bureau.
