Rebels Take Series Lead
By Greg Meachem
Photo by Rob Wallator
Rebels 2 Hitmen 0
CALGARY — The Red Deer Rebels were extra stingy at the Stampede Corral Friday and their lack of generosity — along with just enough finish — resulted in a 2-0 win over the Calgary Hitmen.
The result gave the Rebels a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference quarter-final, which will resume Saturday at the Centrium (7 p.m. start).
While the Hitmen were credited with 30 shots on goal, their top-notch scoring chances could be counted on one hand. Make that 2-3 fingers.
“We kept it pretty right. You win games that way at this time of the year,” said Rebels assistant coach Steve O’Rourke.
The Rebels coach admitted that Friday’s showing was likely the club’s best defensive effort of the season.
“We were really solid that way tonight,” he said. “The guys played with emotion right from the start.”
Luke Philp notched the only goal the Rebels needed 4:08 into the contest, cashing a feed from Adam Helewka on a two-on-one break.
Jake DeBrusk gave the visitors some breathing room when he converted a pass from Michael Spacek late in the second frame.
The shots were equal at 12-12 in the final stanza and although the Hitmen applied some late pressure, Rebels goaltender Trevor Martin didn’t face much in the way of dangerous volleys.
With the game played at the old Corral — due to the Saddledome hosting the Juno Awards — the Rebels were in unfamiliar territory Friday.
“You just never know, going into that building and having the day off that we had . . . what’s going to happen,” said O’Rourke.
“But our guys were committed and they had a lot of blocked shots tonight. Even near the end of the game . . . (Kayle) Doetzel and (Brandon) Hagel made some huge blocks.”
Hitmen netminder Cody Porter, like Martin, made 30 saves, including breakaway stops on Luke Philp and Adam Musil.
The fact that a fourth triumph is usually the hardest to attain is not lost on the Rebels, who can advance to a conference semifinal with a win Saturday.
“it’s going to be all about our start,” said O’Rourke. “We have to come out with the right emotion and get off to a good start and then go from there, like we did tonight.”
