Red Deer Rebels, coming off a Friday win, battled fatigue in a 4-1 victory over Edmonton Oil Kings. Captain Kai Uchacz shines with a hat trick, bringing his season goals to 25. Coach Walser praises team effort despite a less-than-perfect performance. Special teams excel, killing all Oil Kings power plays. Uchacz named first star, goalie Chase Wutzke crucial in the win. Next challenge: facing top-ranked Saskatoon Blades on Wednesday.
The first period was scoreless. Shots on goal in the first period were 12-10 for the Rebels.
Kai Uchacz opens up the scoring at 5:11 of the second period with the assists on the goal going to Frantisek Formanek and Mats Lindgren. That marks Uchacz’s 90th WHL career goal.– Following a scoreless opening period, the Rebels struck five minutes into the middle frame when Frantisek Formanek carried the puck from behind the net and passed over to Uchacz, who tapped it home from the edge of the crease.
Ty Nash the son of former NHLer Tyson Nash makes it 1-1 at 10:35 of the second frame with the assists going to former Seattle Thunderbird Gracyn Sawchyn and Nipawin, Saskatchewan native Roan Woodward.
Kai Uchacz scores his second goal of the game on the Power Play at 15:57 of the second period with the assists going to Kalan Lind and Mats Lindgren.–Before the period was out though, the Rebels were able to regain their lead on Uchacz’s second of the game as he picked the top corner of the Edmonton net with a shot from the right circle on a Red Deer power play at the 15:57 mark.
Shots in the second frame were 18-10 for the Rebels.
Dwayne Jean Jr scored an empty net goal at 18:14 of the third with the assists going to Zane Saab and Samuel Drancak.
Kai Uchacz completed the hat trick making it a 4-1 game with his 25th goal of the season. The assist on that goal went to Matteo Fabrizi.
Shots on goal in third were 11-9 for the Rebels. The Rebels outshot the Oil Kings in the game 41-29.
Chase Wutzke stopped 28 of the 29 saves for the Rebels for the win. While Kolby Hay stopped 37 of the 39 shots he faced for the Oil Kings.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Kai Uchacz 2) Kolby Hay 3) Mats Lindgren
Attendance in Red Deer was 3,759
Rebels next game is Wednesday January 17th against the Saskatoon Blades.
Former Wenatchee Wild and Canada World Junior Star Matt Savoie played in his first game with the Moose Jaw Warriors today getting 5 points in a Warriors 7-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants.
In Saskatoon they had goalie night tonight which looked pretty cool.
