Team effort leads Rebels to victory over Tigers
The Red Deer Rebels authored their second-straight solid effort to start the season, this time with a favorable result in the form of a 4-2 win over the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers.
“Yeah, really happy. I think overall (it was) playoff hockey,” said Rebels head coach Dave Struch. “I think the second period, we got away from our game a lot in the last seven minutes and we allowed them back into the game. But the third period, I think we came up the same way we did in the first.”
STATS STORY
Matthew Gard – (F) Red Deer – 1 goal, 1 assist, +3
Jhett Larson – (F) Red Deer – 2 assists
Beckett Hamilton – (F) Red Deer – first WHL goal
Chase Wutzke – (G) Red Deer – 20 saves
Ethan McCallum – (G) Medicine Hat – 25 saves
Niilopekka Muhonen – (D) Medicine Hat – 1 goal, 1 assist
GAME RECAP
The Red Deer Rebels felt the energy of the home crowd on Friday night and got off to another quick start.
Just over three minutes into the first, Beckett Hamilton arrived with his first Western Hockey League goal after Matthew Gard found him with a rebound pass off the right pad of McCallum.
Welcome to the Western Hockey League, Beckett!@Rebelshockey rookie Beckett Hamilton capitalizes on a rebound to grab his first goal in the WHL! #WHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/hZgdpcboq6
— The WHL (@TheWHL) September 28, 2024
Less than 10 minutes later, Hunter Mayo locked and loaded his first of the season for the Rebels. Trae Wilke won the battle behind the net, he cycled the puck to Luke Vlooswyk who fed Mayo for a one-timer from the left point.
Luke Vlooswyk and Trae Wilke delivered Mayo all the ingredients he needed to serve up this beauty! 👨🍳#RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/K2nKXShLSv
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) September 28, 2024
In the second, Medicine Hat came out hungry with Niilopekka Muhonen sniping a loose puck past Chase Wutzke to get the Tigers on the board early.
The Rebels responded with their third goal, and ultimate game-winner, minutes later when Gard fired home a quick one off of a faceoff win by Jhett Larson.
Blink and you'll miss it. Gard capitalizes. #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/ieCqZaLRVb
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) September 28, 2024
Still in the second period, Josh Van Mulligan beat Wutzke through traffic from the slot to make it a 3-2 game through 40 minutes.
It would remain a one-goal game until midway through the third when Larson slid the puck to Jeramiah Roberts who found the back of the net off the two-on-one rush for the game’s final goal.
Off the rush, Jhett Larson slides it over for Roberts to find the back of the net. #RDREBELS | #WHL pic.twitter.com/AY5dZSK5N7
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) September 28, 2024
Wutzke closed the door on 20 shots to help earn the Rebels victory, while Ethan McCallum stopped 25 for the Tigers.
Red Deer was 0-for-5 on the power play while Medicine Hat was 0-for-2.
Three Stars
1. Jhett Larson RD
2. Andrew Basha MH
3. Hunter Mayo RD
Postgame Comments
Head coach Dave Struch
Jhett Larson
Next Up
The Rebels and Tigers meet again Saturday night, this time in Medicine Hat (7 p.m. – 106.7 Rewind Radio & CHL TV). They’ll meet yet again next Friday, October 4 back at the Peavey Mart Centrium (TICKETS).
