Chase Coward was added tonight and will start for the first time in almost 10 months since hip surgery.
With tonights win the Rebels clinched the central division for the first time since the 2010-11 season, when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was on the team 😲
Kai Uchaz opened up the scoring for the Rebels at 13:41 of the first period scoring on a beautiful backhand. Assists on the goal to Ben King and Jace Isley. In the second period Jhett Larson scored his 15th goal of the season shorthanded on a 2 on 1 assisted by Jayden Grubbe at 14:04.
Osler Saskatchewan’s Chase Pauls scored for the Hurricanes with 17 seconds remaining in the game short handed to make it 2-1 and ruin Coward’s shutout. Assist on the goal to Jett Jones.
Other Notes.
Rebels next game is Friday March 10th against the Calgary Hitmen at 7pm in Red Deer
Attendance in Red Deer was 2857.
Three stars of tonights game 1) Kai Uchacz 2) Jhett Larson 3) Chase Coward
Lind was still out of the lineup for the Rebels, but also Frantisek Formanek missed the game due to a lower body ailment.
Red Deer outshot Lethbridge 36-21. Chase Coward made 20 saves for the win in his return for the Rebels. For the Lethbridge Hurricanes 20 year old Moose Jaw native veteran Bryan Thomson made 34 saves.
The Red Deer Rebels have claimed the title of Central Division Champions, solidifying their Divisional victory on Wednesday with a 2-1 triumph over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. This marks the first time Red Deer has earned the Central Division title since the 2010-11 season, and the Rebels secured their 40th win of the current season with their latest victory.
Leading the offensive charge for Red Deer is 19-year-old forward Kai Uchacz, who scored his 47th goal of the 2022-23 season during Wednesday’s game. Another key player to keep an eye on during the upcoming 2023 WHL Playoffs is Anaheim Ducks prospect Ben King, who claimed the League’s top spot with 52 goals last season.
The defense is anchored by two NHL prospects: Mats Lindgren, selected by the Buffalo Sabres in last year’s NHL Draft, and Finnish import Christoffer Sedoff, who recently signed a free-agent deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kyle Kelsey has been the primary goalie for Red Deer this season, racking up 18 wins. Veteran Chase Coward, who was absent for the entirety of the season up to this point, returned to the Rebels lineup on Wednesday and played a pivotal role in four of Red Deer’s five playoff victories last season.
As the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Red Deer Rebels have secured a spot in the 2023 WHL Playoffs and will commence their post-season campaign with a home game against the #7 seed.