It was 80s night in Red Deer. Back in the 80’s the Brandon Wheat Kings were playing the likes of the Billings Bighorns, Seattle Breakers, Calgary Wranglers, Victoria Cougars, New Westminster Bruins, Spokane Flyers, Winnipeg Warriors, Lethbridge Broncos, Nanaimo Islanders, Kamloops Junior Oilers, and the Kelowna Wings. The Red Deer Rebels in the 80’s well, they just didn’t exist.🤪
With a win tonight the Rebels could be tied for first place. They have played more games than Winnipeg. (5 to be exact). After the first period there was no scoring. Goaltenders Nick Jones & Rhett Stoesser made a few goal saving stops to keep it 0-0. Shots on goal after the first frame was 10-10 and both teams went 0 for 2 on the Power Play. The Wheat Kings opened up the scoring at 4:34 of the second period when former Swift Current Bronco Kayden Sadhra-Kang passed it over to Quinn Mantei who rifled it on net. 20 year old Brandon Native Nolan Ritchie was right there to score his 16th of the season. Kai Uchacz got into a scrap with Wheat King and Powell River, B.C native Luke Shipley in the third period.
The Rebels responded with Jayden Grubbe From Kai Uchacz and Christoffer Sedoff on the Power Play with just over 2 minutes remaining to play in the game. That’s the New York Rangers 2021 third rounders 12th of the season. This one is going to overtime and the Rebels need the win. The Rebels had lost to the Wheat Kings in their two previous meetings earlier this season, a 3-2 shootout loss in Brandon on Nov. 11th, 2022 and a 4-2 loss in Red Deer a little over a week later on Nov. 19th, 2022.
It took only 39 seconds into overtime for Kalan Lind to end this one. Assists on the goal to Kai Uchacz and Christoffer Sedoff. The Wheat Kings are currently 3 points out of a playoff spot. I mean they might get ahead of Medicine Hat, but Regina or Swift Current will more than likely make sure they are golfing on March 26th and not getting prepared to get swept by the Winnipeg Ice in 4.
Other Notes
The Rebels are in Calgary Sunday to Play the Hitmen. Again. The Rebels beat the Hitmen 6-4 New Years Day in Calgary last time they played. The Hitmen are currently in 6th Place in the Eastern Conference.
4,615 fans were in attendance. The three stars of tonights game were 1) Rebels Captain Jayden Grubbe 2) Wheat King Goalie Nicholas Jones, who made 28 saves, and 3) Rebel Goalie Rhett Stoesser, who blocked 32 shots. Stoesser has been on fire lately. Got to be the red hair. 👍
Kai Uchacz has the second most goals in the WHL at 36. The league leader at 39 is Connor Bedard.
