The Red Deer Rebels are struggling, having lost their sixth consecutive game to the Moose Jaw Warriors despite initially holding momentum with a 2-1 lead. However, the Warriors capitalized on key moments, particularly with two power play goals, shifting the game’s tide. Rebels’ head coach Derrick Walser emphasized the importance of attention to detail and discipline, recognizing areas for improvement, especially in special teams play.
Moose Jaw native Atley Calvert scored his 34th goal of the season on the Power Play to make it a 1-0 game at 9:03 of the first period. Assists on the goal to Jagger Firkus and Denton Mateychuk – The Warriors took an early lead on the power play just 9 minutes and 8 seconds into the game, with Atley Calvert redirecting the puck from the edge of the crease.
Kalan Lind scored his 12th goal of the season on the Power Play at 10:13 of the opening frame to tie the game at 1. The assist on the goal went to the captain Kai Uchacz.– The Rebels answered just over a minute later when Kai Uchacz fed Kalan Lind, who was denied by netminder Jackson Unger on his initial attempt but buried his own rebound.
Jace Weir scores his 2nd goal of the season at 12:13 of the first period to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead. Assists on the goal went to Dwayne Jean Jr. and Matthew Gard.- Exactly two minutes had passed when a point shot by Jace Weir found its way through a crowd and past Unger.
Columbus Blue Jackets 2022 1st rounder Denton Mateychuk scores on the Power Play for the Warriors to tie the game up at 2 with just 1 second remaining in the opening period. The assist on the goal went to fellow World Junior team mate and Pittsburgh Penguins 2023 first rounder Brayden Yager.– Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk cashed in a rebound for a power play goal with half a second remaining in the frame.
Shots on goal in the first period were 14-8 for the Rebels.
Matt Savoie gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead at 3:46 of the middle frame unassisted.– The Warriors assumed a lead they never relinquished when Matthew Savoie struck from a scramble 3:46 into the second period
20 year old Czech Martin Rysavy gave the Warriors a 4-2 lead at 19:12 of the second period with the assists going to Jagger Firkus and Denton Mateychuk.– The Warriors made it 4-2 when Martin Rysavy scored on a net front trip in the final minute of the frame.
Shots on goal in the second period were 13-9 for Moose Jaw
Talon Brigley got his 13th goal of the season at 15:32 of the third period. But not with out having to go upstairs to check. Assist on the goal went to Jhett Larson.– With just over four minutes to play and Red Deer cut the lead to one when Talon Brigley slide it home. The goal was initially called off, but overturned after a lengthy review.
Atley Calvert got his second goal of the game to give the Warriors the 5-3 lead at 16:40 of the third period with the assists going to Matt Savoie and former Vancouver Giant Ethan Semeniuk– With momentum on the Rebels’ side, the Warriors answered back as Calvert banked in a goal just 1:08 later for his 35th and restoring the two-goal lead.
Brayden Yager scored on the empty net at 18:04 of the final period to give the Warriors the comfortable 6-3 lead. With the assists going to Jagger Firkus and Denton Mateychuk.–Brayden Yager would slide it into an empty net with 1:56 remaining to give Moose Jaw some more breathing room.
Carson Birnie made the game less embarrassing when he made the score 6-4 by scoring a goal with a minute left in the game. Assist on the goal went to Carson Latimer and Samuel Drancak.– Carson Birnie potted Red Deer’s final goal with exactly one minute remaining, grabbing a feed from Carson Latimer, cutting to the net and beating Unger to the far top corner.
Jackson Unger made 25 saves on the 29 shots that he faced for the win for the Warriors. Chase Wutzke made 20 saves on the 25 shots that he faced for the Rebels.
Rebels outshot the Warriors 6-5 in the third period. The Rebels ended up outshooting the Warriors 29-26 in the game.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Denton Mateychuk 2) Matt Savoie 3) Frantisek Formanek
Attendance in Red Deer was 4,866
Rebels next game is Saturday February 10th in Medicine Hat against the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Rebels next home game is Tuesday February 13th against the Calgary Hitmen.
