The Red Deer Rebels nailed a solid 7-3 victory against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, marking their seventh consecutive win. Kai Uchacz’s hat-trick stole the show, supported by Frantisek Formanek’s dynamic performance. The Red Deer Rebels’ season record now stands at 29-18-2-6 after their recent victory against Lethbridge. This win brings their total points to 66 and puts them in a strong position in the Western Hockey League’s Central Division

Langley native Logan Wormald opened up the scoring for the Hurricanes at 4:12 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Brayden Edwards and Swift Current, Saskatchewan native Joe Arntsen.The Hurricanes got on the board early, finding the back of the net just 4 minutes and 12 seconds into the game. After Chase Wutzke made an initial save on Brayden Edwards’ shot, the puck lingered in the crease, and Logan Wormald capitalized, poking it across the goal line for the score.

Frantisek Formanek tied the game up for the Rebels at 19:12 of the opening period with the assist going to fellow Czech Samuel Drancakthe Rebels pulled even as Frantisek Formanek scored his 15th goal of the season cashing in on a rebound after a defensive zone turnover to tie the game 1-1

Shots on goal in the first period were 12-5 for the Rebels

Kai Uchacz gave the Rebels a 2-1 lead when he scored his 36th goal of the season at 4:43 with the assists on the goal going to Frantisek Formanek. That marks Uchacz’s 100th goal as a Red Deer Rebel. He is the fifth Rebel in franchise history to do so. The others are Brandon Hagel (103 2015-2019), B.J. Young (112 1994-1997), Justin Mapletoft (115 1996-2001), and Arron Asham (131 1994-1998). Ben King is right behind Uchacz and almost broke the 100 mark, he had 97.

Kai Uchacz scored his second goal of the game a minute later on the Power Play to make it a 3-1 game with the assists going to Kalan Lind and Talon Brigley.Just 1:05 later, Uchacz scored his second of the day on a power play ripping home his team-leading 37th goal of the year beating Meneghin over the blocker to make it a 3-1 lead.

Former Spokane Chief Kooper Gizowski scores his 15th goal of the season at 7:15 of the middle frame with the assist on the goal going to former Victoria Royal and Canora, Saskatchewan native Carter Dereniwsky.The Hurricanes answered less than two-minutes later when Kooper Gizowski ended a 16-game goal drought scoring his 15th goal of the season burying a centering pass from Carter Dereniwsky to make it a one-goal game. 

Frantisek Formanek makes it 4-2 Rebels at 15:13 of the second period with the assists on the goal going to Kai Uchacz and Jhett Larson.Red Deer restored their two-goal lead as Formanek finished a pass from Uchacz at the 15:13 mark

Zane Saab scores his 4th goal of the season with the assist going to Matthew Gard at 17:43 of the second periodZane Saab stuffed home his fourth of the season to give the Rebels a 5-2 lead after forty minutes.

Shots on goal in the second period were 17-8 for the Rebels. Brady Smith replaced Meneghin in the Hurricanes net to start the third period.

Ollie Josephson snipes his 9th goal of the season shorthanded at 2:34 of the third period unassisted.Red Deer kept their foot on the gas early in the final frame as Ollie Josephson buried a shot over the blocker of Smith on the first shot he faced to make it 6-2 with a shorthanded goal.

Kooper Gizowski scores his second goal of the night and 16th of the season at 3:22 of the third period on the Power Play. Assists on the goal went to a couple of Saskatoon natives in Trae Wilke and Logan McCutcheon

Kai Uchacz completes the hat trick at 13:09 of the third period with the assist on the goal going to Hunter Mayo.Red Deer rounded out the scoring at the 13:09 mark when Uchacz completed his third hat-trick of the season for his fourth point of the contest to make it a 7-3 final; Hunter Mayo earned the lone helper on the goal.

Shots on goal in the third period were 12-10 for the Rebels. The Rebels outshot the Hurricanes in the game 41-23.

Chase Wutzke stopped 20 of the 23 shots that he faced for the Rebels. Harrison Meneghin made 24 saves on the 29 shots that he faced in the first two periods of the game. He was relieved by Cloverdale, BC native Brady Smith who made 10 saves on the 12 shots that he faced for the Hurricanes.

Three Stars of the game were 1) Kai Uchacz 2) Frantisek Formanek 3) Zane Saab

Attendance in Red Deer was 6,904

Rebels next game is Saturday February 24th against the Wenatchee Wild in Red Deer

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