Rebels and Huskies set for Sunday showdown

The host Red Deer Rebels return to action on Day 3 of the 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup, looking to shake off a Friday night loss to the London Knights against the QMJHL champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Red Deer’s Game 1 loss wasn’t for a lack of chances. London goaltender Tyler Parsons had help from a few goal posts and provided numerous key saves in the latter half of the game to hold the Rebels at bay.

The hometown team will have the fans behind them when the puck drops at 5:00pm MT as they take on a Huskies squad that skated to a 5-3 win over the WHL champion Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday.

For the Rebels, a quick start will be imperative.

“We need to build momentum early in the game, do the little things right and limit our turnovers,” said Red Deer blueliner Haydn Fleury. “We need to play a fast style of hockey, get pucks in and forecheck.”

Rebels head coach Brent Sutter had a chance to see Rouyn-Noranda’s Saturday night win and came away impressed.

Sutter feels early physicality, much like the tone they set early in Friday’s contest against London, is a must.

HAYDN FLEURY, BRENT SUTTER PRE-GAME COMMENTS:

“We’re a better hockey team when we play that way,” he said. “When we get caught into where we aren’t engaged in the game, we get caught standing around and our coverage isn’t where it needs to be, we make too many mistakes, too many turnovers. We’re a good skating team and we need our guys physically and emotionally involved in the game.”

While the Rebels look to play a more disciplined game tonight after handing London some key power plays on Friday, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies try and turn the page on a forgettable third period that saw them outshot 20-4 in Saturday’s win over Brandon.

“We didn’t have a good third period,” said Huskies head coach Gilles Bouchard, “so for us it’s a good lesson to make sure that, if your mindset is not good and you don’t compete, it’s impossible to have success at this tournament.”

“I’m positive that we’ll be ready to go right at the start tonight against Red Deer.”

The Huskies were outshot in just 10 of their 68 games this season, but managed to prevail on Saturday thanks to a 38-save performance from goaltender Chase Marchand while San Jose Sharks prospect Timo Meier scored twice.

The Huskies will have last change tonight as they hunt down their second victory to put themselves in good shape heading into their final round robin matchup against London on Tuesday.

Tonight’s game can be seen on Sportsnet and Sportsnet 360 at 5:00pm MT/7:00pm ET.

GILLES BOUCHARD PRE-GAME COMMENTS: