Just 1 minute and 24 seconds into the game Jace Isley grabbed a weak Carter Yakemchuk clearing attempt, cut into the net snuck the puck right between the other d man Trey Patterson’s legs and then clanked it off the post in the net beating Buenaventua. That is Isley’s 19th goal of the season. Then towards the end of the period after numerous shots on net Kai Uchacz turned around and fired his league leading 31st goal of the year to make it 2-0 and end the first period.
The Calgary Hitmen though kept playing well having numerous chances at the start of the second. Had to keep remembering that the Hitmen weren’t the Oil Kings. Then with about 8 minutes left in the second period Ethan Moore set up Blake Heward for a shot from the point and the Langley, BC product Brandon Whynot shoveled it in for the Hitmen. Cutting the Rebels lead to 1. Then a minute later London Hoilett standing in the exact same spot that his team mate Whynot was earlier, scored to tie the game up. Both of those Hitmen goals they worked hard for, have to give them credit there.
With under 3 minutes left the Rebels had a great rush down the ice. Hitmen d-man Tyson Galloway a St. Louis Blues prospect was able to do a great job and successfully strip Kalan Lind of the puck (which is a very hard feat to do if you have seen how good that kid is with the puck?). Then for what ever reason when he finished he felt the need to pass the puck to Kai Uchacz who is not on his team and happens to lead the Western Hockey League in goals. 😲😲😲😲😲😲
Then the Rebels seemed to get a tad lazy for a bit which the Hitmen capitalized on. Former Everett Silvertip turned Hitmen Jacob Wright passed the puck out front to 17 year old Oliver Tuck to tie the game up at 3. (I had to come back and edit this as I called Oliver Tuck Oliver Twist🤪). After the first 2 periods the Hitmen were outshooting the Rebels 28-19. Stoesser was playing awesome. With a little less than 4 minutes left in the game Rebels forward 16 year old Ollie Josephson scored from the high right circles on a pass from Craig Armstrong to make the game 4-3. Kai Uchacz completed his hat trick by putting the puck into the empty net with 1:51 remaining to insure the win.
Game Notes
Attendance at the Saddledome was 4828. The Macs Midget or K Circle thing final was going on over at the Max Bell Arena at the same time. The Southern Alberta Hockey Academy defeated the Calgary Buffaloes 4-0 to win their second straight title. There must of been at least 3,000 there.
The Hitmen out shot the Rebels 37-29.
Rebels next games are on the road with a game in Prince Albert January 6th and then in Saskatoon January 7th. Their next home game is January 11th against Moose Jaw. On a Wednesday.