In the closing moments of Sunday afternoon’s WHL preseason game at the Peavey Mart Centrium, the Red Deer Rebels kept trying to tie it up against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Despite their determined efforts, the Rebels fell short and ultimately suffered a 4-3 defeat in front of approximately 1,500 fans.
This game was also featured on CHL tv today for free apparently.
California native Quentin Bourne opened up the scoring for the Rebels at 10:24 of the first period. Assists on the goal to 16 year old Winnipeg native 6’3 Matthew Gard and 2022 first rounder Luke Vlooswyk. I hope Bourne has a multi goal game (like at least a hat triack) this season so I can use the term Bourne Supremacy.😉 I think its very possible the way he has been playing this preseason to use that term by October.👍 Oil Kings tied the game up at 15:31 of the first period when 19 year old Lethbridge native Marshall Finnie played garbage man and scored on a scramble in front.
The Rebels responded just over a minute later when Dwayne Jean Jr.🪕 Sniped his second of the preseason. Assisted by Kamloops, BC native Evan Smith. The second period proved to be a turning point as the Oil Kings netted three consecutive goals. 18 year old 6’4 Edmonton native Cole Miller opened the scoring at 9:27 with a spectacular shot from the low slot. With assists on the goal going to Kelowna native Mason Finley and 16 year old Coaldale, Alberta native Jager Gugyelka.
Not long after, Mason Finley seized an opportunity on a short-handed breakaway, sending a high shot past Chase Wutzke after a turnover at the Edmonton blueline. The Oilers’ second-period domination didn’t stop there. In the dying minutes, Cole Miller struck again, this time on a power play. He fired a precise one-timer from the left circle, sealing an impressive period for Edmonton. Assists on the goal to Saskatoon native Jacob Hoffrogge and Czech giant 6’5 Adam Jecho.
In a clutch moment, veteran forward Jhett Larson narrowed the gap for the Rebels. With just 1 minute and 59 seconds left on the clock, Larson executed a power play goal, outmaneuvering Oil King netminder Kolby Hay with a well-placed low shot from the right circle. Notably, Red Deer’s goaltender Chase Wutzke had been benched at that point. Assists on the goal to Jace Weir and Quenton Bourne Identity.
As the game’s tension reached its peak, Wutzke continued to stay on the bench while the Rebels launched a relentless offensive push in the final two minutes. Despite their efforts, they fell just shy of leveling the score. Close but no cigar.
Kyle Kelsey stopped 10 of 12 shots through the first half of the contest before Wutzke entered and made seven saves on nine shots. Kamloops native Kolby Hay turned aside 14 of 15 shots for the Oil Kings through 40 minutes, with former Victoria Royal Logan Cunningham stopping 12 of 14 for them.
Five Rebels — Kalan Lind (Nashville), Mats Lindgren (Buffalo), Carson Latimer (Minnesota), Hunter Mayo (Los Angeles) and Matteo Fabrizi (Las Vegas) — will head to NHL rookie camps this week. Jayden Grubbe, the Rebels former captain will attend the Edmonton Oilers rookie camp but is a signed player and isn’t expected to be back with the club. Graduating players also at camps are Ben King in Anaheim, Christoffer Sedoff in Las Vegas, and Jace Isley in New Jersey.
Next weekend, the Rebels will conclude their exhibition schedule with a home matchup against the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, followed by a Saturday game against the Lethbridge Hurricanes in that city with the big bridge. Mark your calendars for Red Deer’s regular-season opener, scheduled for September 22nd at the Centrium, where they will face off against Edmonton.
