Red Deer Rebels secured a 2-1 WHL win against Prince Albert Raiders, despite a less-than-perfect performance. Ollie Josephson’s late goal and Chase Wutzke’s stellar 26-save performance sealed the victory. Rebels coach Derrick Walser acknowledged the team’s sluggishness but praised their resilience in the seventh consecutive win. Josephson’s game-winning goal, after creating a turnover, marked a turnaround in the third period. The team, though outshot, credited their character and determination for the victory. Josephson, heading to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, expressed growing confidence in the team.
Kalan Lind scored for the Rebels at 7:06 of the opening period with the assists going to Ollie Josephson and Talon Brigley to make it a 1-0 game.– The Rebels took a 1-0 lead 7:06 into the first period, but it took an overturned call on a video review to do so. After a shot from the slot was stopped by Max Hildebrand, Kalan Lind crashed the net and made contact with the Raider netminder. Hildebrand’s left pad was pushed towards the goal line, with the puck trickling into the net. The call on the ice was no goal, after the referee waved it off for goalie interference, and a long video review ensued. After looking at the goal and having a discussion on the ice, the call was overturned, and Lind was credited with the goal for the Rebels, scoring his seventh of the season to make it a 1-0 game.
Shots in the first period were 6-3 for the Rebels.
20 year old Saskatoon native Jacob Hoffrogge scored for the Raiders on the Power Play at 16:59 of the second frame to tie up the game. Assist on the goal went to Calgary native Aiden Oiring.– With Rebels defenceman Elias Carmichael serving an interference penalty, Prince Albert pulled even at the 16:59 mark of the middle frame when Aidan Oiring converted a rebound from the edge of the crease.
Shots on goal in the second period were 10-8 for the Raiders.
Ollie Josephson scores his 6th goal of the season to make it 2-0 Rebels with 1:37 remaining in the game. Unassisted.–Josephson created a turnover at centre ice, cruised over the blueline and beat netminder Max Hildebrand with a wrist shot to snap a 1-1 tie with time winding down.
Josephson will be playing in the CHL top prospects game in Moncton, New Brunswick on Wednesday January 24th.
Shots on goal in the third period were 14-4 for the Raiders. Shots on goal in the game were 27-18 for the Raiders.
Chase Wutzke made 26 saves on the 27 shots that he faced for the win. While Max Hildebrand made 16 stops on the 18 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Chase Wutzke 2) Aiden Oiring 3) Ollie Josephson
Attendance in Red Deer was 5,262
Rebels next game is Friday January 26th against the Edmonton Oil Kings in Red Deer.
Prince Albert forward Ryder Ritchie is ranked #19 by Mynhldraft.com. Elite prospects as of this post has him at #9. Central Scouting has him ranked as the 16th ranked North American Skater. Last time Ritchie was ranked by Mynhldraft it was 21st and it had him going to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Raider forward Matej Kubiesa is also ranked as the 220th North American skater for the 2024 NHL draft. He is rated one spot ahead of the Rebels Samuel Drancak who is the 221st North American skater. And they are both Czechs.
| 220 | KUBIESA, MATEJ | 5′ 11″ | 171 | RIGHT WING | PRINCE ALBERT | WHL |
Prince Albert Raiders 1 at Red Deer Rebels 2 – Status: Final
Saturday, January 20, 2024 – Peavey Mart Centrium – Red Deer, AB
Prince Albert 0 1 0 – 1
Red Deer 1 0 1 – 2
1st Period-1, Red Deer, Lind 7 (Ollie Josephson, Brigley), 7:06. Penalties-Goldsmith Pa (interference), 13:10; Jean Jr. Rd (roughing), 16:30.
2nd Period-2, Prince Albert, Hoffrogge 2 (Oiring), 16:59 (PP). Penalties-Sobry Pa (hooking), 3:37; Carmichael Rd (interference), 16:46; Macias Pa (unsportsmanlike cnd., major-fighting), 18:56; Fabrizi Rd (major-fighting), 18:56.
3rd Period-3, Red Deer, Ollie Josephson 6 18:23. Penalties-Lind Rd (delay of game), 7:15; Stanick Pa (delay of game), 13:01.
Shots on Goal-Prince Albert 3-10-14-27. Red Deer 6-8-4-18.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince Albert 1 / 3; Red Deer 0 / 4.
Goalies-Prince Albert, Hildebrand 13-12-0-2 (18 shots-16 saves). Red Deer, Wutzke 13-2-1-2 (27 shots-26 saves).
A-5,262
Referees-Bryce Sebastian (64), Curtis Johanson (80).
Linesmen-Ty Elliot (162), Dylan Leaney (146).