Solid effort comes up short for Rebels in Prince Albert
Head coach Dave Struch called it the best performance by the Red Deer Rebels so far in 2025.
Encouraging as that may be, the Rebels still came out on the short end of a 3-1 decision at the Art Hauser Centre at the hands of the Prince Albert Raiders.
The Rebels are now winless in 12 as they return home from their Saskatchewan road trip 0-2-1-0.
STATS STORY
Tomas Mrsic (PA) – 2 goals
Beckett Hamilton (RD) – 1 goal
Max Hildebrand (PA) – 32 saves
HOW IT HAPPENED
A heads up play by 2023 first overall pick Daxon Rudolph to keep possession inside the Rebels zone lead to the first goal of the game. Rudolph fed a pass to Rilen Kovacevic who’s shot cut through traffic to the back of the Rebels net for a 1-0 Raiders lead.
Then the Raiders went on the powerplay where Tomas Mrsic picked the top corner to make it 2-0.
Wutzke showed more of his brilliance late in the opening frame as he robbed Kovacevic on a shorthanded breakaway.
"Not today," says Wutzke. 🙅♂️#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/QhHYtft2xN
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 19, 2025
Late in the second period, the Rebels capitalized as Prince Albert filled the penalty box.
On a two-man advantage, it was Samuel Drancak who made a cross-crease pass to Beckett Hamilton, who was waiting on Max Hildebrand’s back door to pot the Rebels only goal of the night, and his ninth of his rookie year.
Knock, Knock!
Who's there?
Beckett Hamilton at the back door! #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/ClwBjegVo4
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 19, 2025
The Raiders would add one more in the third when Riley Boychuck set up Mrsic for his second of the game.
Red Deer outshot Prince Albert 33-19 and were 1-for-6 on the power play while the Raiders were 1-for-4.
THREE STARS
- Mrsic (PA)
- Hildebrand (PA)
- Dayce Dekatch (PA)
WHAT THEY SAID
Coach Struch on some encouraging play from the Rebels this weekend#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/PXNWG4Ip3p
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) January 19, 2025
NOTABLES
Rebels scratches for the game were Jack Bousquet (scratch), Kalan Lind (upper), Ollie Josephson (lower), Jhett Larson (upper) and Peyton Shore (upper) … Jaxon Fuder served a one-game suspension for a checking from behind major + game misconduct Friday vs. Saskatoon … Nishaan Parmar also assisted on Hamilton’s goal for his first point with the Rebels …
NEXT UP
The Rebels return home to gear up for games next Friday in Lethbridge and Saturday, January 25 at the Peavey Mart Centrium versus the Moose Jaw Warriors (Woolly Bully’s Birthday and Postgame Skate) (TICKETS).