Shore’s spectacular debut backstops Rebels to 3-2 win over Cougars
What a way to make a first impression.
Peyton Shore was sensational in his first WHL start as he backstopped the Red Deer Rebels to a thrilling 3-2 win over the high-powered Prince George Cougars Friday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
The 16-year-old rookie netminder from Winnipeg held the fort in the second period before his teammates came through with a pair of clutch goals in the third.
STATS STORY
Peyton Shore (RD) – 38 saves, 1st WHL Win
Talon Brigley (RD) – 3 assists
Matthew Gard (RD) – 2 goals
HOW IT HAPPENED
Washington Capitals first-round pick Terik Parascak fired a sizzler past Shore’s blocker side to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead 11:49 into the game.
Red Deer’s deficit was short-lived, with Matthew Gard stepping up, banging home Talon Brigley’s centring pass to tie things less than six minutes later for a 1-1 game after the first period of play.
Gard's second in his last three is the equalizer tonight 🚨#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/7WDwM5yKaw
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) November 30, 2024
Much of the second period belonged to the Cougars, with Shore rising to the occasion and stopping all 21 Cougars shots on goal in the middle frame. But the Rebels showed signs of life late in the period that proved to be a sign of things to come in the third.
Jaxon Fuder and Ollie Josephson cut into the offensive zone, working a give-and-go to perfection that ended with Fuder notching the go-ahead goal, his sixth tally of the year, just over seven minutes into the third period.
Now THAT'S a solid punch!
Jaxon Fuder's go-ahead goal gives Red Deer a 2-1 lead🚨 #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/Ha9M5B46ZO
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) November 30, 2024
Red Deer’s offensive momentum didn’t cease and they were quick to make it 3-1 thanks to a familiar duo as Brigley found Gard down-low, with Gard driving hard on the wrap-around for his second goal of the game and seventh of the year.
Carson Carels made things interesting with a power play goal for Prince George in the final minute. But Shore and the Rebels held the fort for the one-goal win.
Joshua Ravensbergen, freshly back with the Cougars from his starring role for Team CHL, finished with 28 saves on the night. Prince George outshot Red Deer 40-31 and was 1-for-5 on the power play while the Rebels were 0-for-3.
THREE STARS
1. Shore
2. Brigley
3. Gard
WHAT THEY SAID
Dave Struch, Rebels Head Coach
Peyton Shore
NOTES – The Rebels began the game with 11 forwards and seven defencemen then lost Jhett Larson in the first period with an upper body injury … Rebels scratches for the game were Matteo Fabrizi (D, upper), Kalan Lind (F, suspension), Steven Steranka (F, scratch), and Kasper Pikkarainen (F, lower) … Attendance at the Peavey Mart Centrium was 3646.
NEXT UP
The Rebels entertain the Brandon Wheat Kings tomorrow night at the Peavey Mart Centrium at 7 p.m. (TICKETS)
