The Rebels lost 5-2 to the defending WHL Champion Seattle Thunderbirds Tuesday night. This is however a way different team than the liberal looking purchased team that they had last season which still didn’t win the Memorial Cup. The last time the Thunderbirds came to Red Deer was 2019.
Rebels open up the scoring when Carson Birnie got his second goal of the season at 1:03 of the first period. Assists on the goal to Ollie Josephson and Elias Carmichael.- The Rebels started with a bang, getting a goal from Carson Birnie just 63 seconds in. Ollie Josephson cut across the blueline, directed a shot at Spencer Michnik and Birnie cashed the rebound, beating the Seattle netminder to the short side.
17 year old Edmonton Native Bryce Pickford scored his first of the season to tie the game up for the Thunderbirds at 1-1. The assist on the goal went to Gracyn Sawchyn.– The visitors responded just over six minutes later when defenceman Bryce Pickford moved down into the right circle and caught the top corner of the far side on goaltender Rhett Stoesser.
The Rebels got their lead back when Jhett Larson got his 4th goal of the season at 14:44. The assists on the goal went to Carson Latimer and Jace Weir.- Jhett Larson restored Red Deer’s lead at 14:44 of the opening frame, scoring from the edge of the crease after linemate Carson Latimer circled the Seattle net and attempted a wrap-around.
Seattle came right back though. Florida Panthers 2023 second round pick Gracyn Sawychyn scored his second goal of the season and evened up the game at 2-2. The goal came at 15:08 unassisted.-However, just 24 seconds later, Seattle pulled even again as Gracyn Sawchyn, in the low slot, pounced on a terrible turnover and beat a partially screened Stoesser.
Shots in the first period 13-5 Rebels no penalties in the first period either.
There was no scoring in the second period. Shots in the second 14-13
Edmonton native Coster Dunn scored in the third period and made it 3-2 Seattle on a short handed goal.– With Red Deer on the power play, Coster Dunn hauled in a stretch pass from Antonio Martorana and broke in alone.* That may of been Sawchyn that passed that to him which I am almost certain it was. They credited Martorana.
16 year old rookie Antonio Martorana made it a 4-2 game at 14:00 in the third period. Assists on the goal went to Gracyn Sawchyn and Jeremy Hanzel.–Martorana then added an insurance marker at the 14-minute mark, converting a centering pass from Sawchyn while unguarded in front of the net.
Gracyn Sawchyn added an empty net goal with 21 seconds remaining to secure the win at 5-2. Assists on the goal went to Jeremy Hanzel and former Spruce Grove Saint Simon Lovsin.– Sawchyn added an empty-netter in the final minute for good measure.
17 year old Sylvan Lake, Alberta native Spencer Michnik made 35 saves on the 37 shots he faced for the win. While Rhett Stoesser made 20 saves on the 24 shots he saved. Michnik was called up as a backup goalie for a game when he was just 15 years old in 21-22 for the Blackfalds Bulldogs of the AJHL.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Gracyn Sawchyn 2) Jhett Larson 3) Bryce Pickford
Sawchyn, the game’s first star with two goals and a pair of helpers, was selected first overall by Red Deer in the inaugural U.S. Prospects Draft in 2020, but did not sign with the Rebels and his rights were dealt to the Thunderbirds in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2022 WHL draft. Born in Grande Prairie and raised in Minnesota, Sawchyn was taken by the Florida Panthers in the second round of June’s NHL Entry Draft
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Attendance in Red Deer was 3013
Rebels next game is Friday October 27th in Red Deer against the League Leading Portland Winterhawks then off to Calgary on Saturday to Play the Hitmen.
In the AHL- Jayden Grubbe got his first professional goal against the Henderson Silver Knights. On the Bakersfield Condors Sam Gagner is also playing this season there. The Condors beat the Knights 5-1.