This is the first of 5 meetings between the two this season. With the win tonight the Rebels are now in second place in the central division.
There was no scoring in the opening period of play.
Shots on goal in the first period 11-10 for the Rebels
Kai Uchacz opened up the scoring for the Rebels on the Power Play at 4:38 of the middle frame with the assists going to Mats Lindgren and Hunter Mayo.-Red Deer captain Kai Uchacz opened the scoring early in the second period. With the home team on the power play, Mats Lindgren passed down to Uchacz, who caught the far side of the net from the right circle.
Headingley, Manitoba native Rylan Gould tied the game up for the Broncos assisted by Regina native Brady Birnie at 8:45 of the second period–The visitors responded just over four minutes later when Rylan Gould scored from a scramble and the teams went into the second intermission tied at one.
Shots on goal in the second period were 12-10 for the Broncos
Zane Saab scores his second goal of the season to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead. Assists on the goal to Hunter Mayo and Samuel Drancak.–Red Deer regained the lead 5:23 into the final frame when rookie forward Zane Saab notched his second goal of the season, cashing a rebound of a shot by Mayo from 50 feet out.
Bradie Birnie the cousin of Rebel Carson Birnie ties it up for the Broncos at 13:10 of the third period. With the assists on the goal to Rylan Gould and former Brandon Wheat King Zack Turner.– the Broncos pulled even as Brady Birnie, from just outside the crease, punched a rebound past netminder Rhett Stoesser.
Hunter Mayo scores the game winner on the Power Play at 16:33 of the final period from Kai Uchaz and Mats Lindgren.-Then, with Broncos forward Caleb Wyrostok serving a kneeing penalty, Uchacz fed Mayo with a rink wide pass and the defenceman, from the left circle, beat goaltender Joey Rocha high to the stick side for the winner. It was Mayo’s third goal of the season.
Shots on goal in the third period were 11 each. The Broncos outshot the Rebels 33-32 in the game.
Rhett Stoesser made 31 stops on the 33 shots that he faced for the win for the Rebels. Nanaimo native Joey Rocha stopped 29 shots of the 32 shots that he faced for the Broncos.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Hunter Mayo 2) Brady Birnie 3) Mats Lindgren
Attendance in Red Deer 2,906
Rebels next game is Saturday November 17th when the Regina Pats come to town. Then they are done until after Christmas then they host the Medicine Hat Tigers on December 27th.
Still Lindless and Latimerless.
NHL Central Scouting: NHL’s Central Scouting service came out with their initial rankings of the season on October 25, 2023, and a pair of Broncos are ones to watch heading into the 2024 NHL Draft. Josh Fluker and Clarke Caswell were rated as “C” level prospects, meaning they are currently projected as 4th or 5th Round Draft Picks.
Standings Prior To Tonight’s Game
Swift Current Broncos 2 at Red Deer Rebels 3 – Status: End of Game
Thursday, December 14, 2023 – Peavey Mart Centrium – Red Deer, AB
Swift Current 0 1 1 – 2
Red Deer 0 1 2 – 3
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Turner Sc (roughing), 6:13.
2nd Period-1, Red Deer, Uchacz 19 (Lindgren, Mayo), 4:38 (PP). 2, Swift Current, Gould 9 (Birnie), 8:45. Penalties-McCleary Sc (tripping), 3:26; Burzynski Sc (tripping), 11:42; Fabrizi Rd (interference), 14:57; Ollie Josephson Rd (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 20:00.
3rd Period-3, Red Deer, Zane Saab 2 (Mayo, Samuel Drancak), 5:23. 4, Swift Current, Birnie 12 (Gould, Turner), 13:10. 5, Red Deer, Mayo 3 (Uchacz, Lindgren), 16:33 (PP). Penalties-Formanek Rd (cross checking), 13:36; Wyrostok Sc (kneeing), 15:59; Carson Birnie Rd (interference), 17:48; Hvidston Sc (10-minute misconduct), 19:53.
Shots on Goal-Swift Current 10-12-11-33. Red Deer 11-10-11-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Swift Current 0 / 4; Red Deer 2 / 4.
Goalies-Swift Current, Rocha 5-9-1-1 (32 shots-29 saves). Red Deer, Stoesser 8-7-0-1 (33 shots-31 saves).
A-2,906
Referees-Mike Campbell (89), Ben Solomon (26).
Linesmen-Jacob Hicks (85), Chad Huseby (59).