The Red Deer Rebels headed to Lethbridge Saturday night to finish the preseason. Red Deer and Lethbridge will face each other 6 times this regular season!!!
The Rebels opened the scoring only 1:52 into the game as 17 year old rookie Evan Smith notched his first of the pre-season, scoring on a rebound from a great rush by Kai Uchacz.
Lethbridge pulled even late in the opening period at 17:52 when 18 year old former Spokane Chief Kooper Gizowski got his second goal of the preseason and beat Rebels netminder Kyle Kelsey. Assists on the goal to Belarusian Anton Astashevich and Miguel Marques.
The Hurricanes outshot the Rebels 12-8 in the first period.
Saskatoon native Trae Wilke scored on the Power Play for the Hurricanes just two minutes into a five-minute charging penalty to Rebels first-year forward big 6’5 Levi Green, who was also assessed a game misconduct. Assists on the goal which came at 5:32 of the second period go to Swedish import Elias Knoester and 20 year old former Spokane Chief Blake Swetlikoff.
Red Deer defenceman Elias Carmichael scored an unassisted goal to make it a 2-2 game at 9:53 f the second period. But Prince George native Miguel Marques replied for the ‘Canes shortly after at 11:23 of the second period with the assists on the goal to Anton Astashevich and Kooper Gizowski.
The Rebels outshot the Hurricanes in the second period 13-8
Rebels first-year forward Zane Saab scored at 15:48 of the third period when he redirected a Nick Andrusiak point shot to force extra time. The other assist went to Dwayne Jean Jr🪕
The Rebels outshot the Hurricanes 8-4 in the third period.
Miguel Marques scored his second goal of the evening 59 seconds into overtime to lift the ‘Canes over the Rebels 4-3 at the Enmax Centre.
Kyle Kelsey finished with 21 saves, while at the other end 16 year old Port Alberni, BC native Koen Cleaver who made his first start of the preseason stopped 10 of 12 shots and former Coquitlam Express goaltender Brady Smith blocked 16 of the 17 shots he faced.
The Rebels open the regular season next Friday at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
