Former Red Deer Rebels player Arron Asham returns to his old stomping grounds. Asham, a key player in the team’s history, becomes the ninth member to receive a bobblehead in his honor, featuring his iconic vintage uniform and long hair. The bobblehead, approved by Asham, was given to the first 1,500 fans who attended the game against the Swift Current. Asham’s connection to the team and the city runs deep, as he played his first season in 1994-95 and became an elite scorer by the end of his tenure.
Kamloops, BC native Matthew Ward opened up the scoring for the Broncos at 2:19 into the first period. The assists on the goal went to Rylan Gould and 20 year old Swift Current native and former Portland Winterhawk Ryan McCleary.–Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke kicked out a shot by Ryan Gould and Matthew Ward buried the rebound
2022 New Jersey Devils sixth rounder Josh Filmon made it 2-0 for the Broncos at 4:29 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Brandon, Manitoba native Clarke Caswell and 2022 Anaheim Ducks fifth rounder Connor Hvidston.– Josh Filmon scored shortly after, taking a drop pass from Clarke Caswell at the Red Deer blueline, breaking in and slipping the puck through Wutzke’s pads.
Frantisek Formanek scored his 20th goal of the season at 10:38 of the first period with the assist on the goal going to Kai Uchacz.– the Rebels fought back and drew even on a breakaway goal by Frantisek Formanek at the 10:38 mark
Luke Vlooswyk scores his first Western Hockey League goal at 15:42 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Kai Uchacz and Frantisek Formanek.-Affiliate defenseman Luke Vlooswyk scored his first-ever WHL goal, capitalizing on a pass from Uchacz and beating netminder Reid Dyck from the high slot. This significant milestone for the Rebels’ first pick in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft comes as he fills in for the injured Red Deer defensemen Hunter Mayo and Quentin Bourne.
Luke Mistelbacher scored his 16th goal of the season for the Broncos to make it a 3-2 game at 16:59 of the opening period. The assists on the goal went to Conor Geekie and an Kamloops, BC native and former Calgary Hitmen recently turned 21 Tyson Galloway. Galloway is also wearing an “A” for the Broncos now.–The Broncos answered back five minutes later when Luke Mistelbacher avoided a check at the Red Deer blueline, swooped in and beat Wutzke to his blocker side.
Connor Hvidston makes it 4-2 for the Broncos at 19:41 of the first period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Matthew Ward and Clarke Caswell.–Then, with 19 seconds remaining in the period, Connor Hvidston scored on the power play to give the Broncos a 4-2 lead after 20 minutes. Rhett Stoesser would replace Wutzke in net for Red Deer to start the second period.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-10 for the Broncos
Samuel Drancak scores for the Rebels at 1:40 into the middle period unassisted.-Samuel Drancak brought the team within one point, scoring a goal to make it 4-3 in the middle period. After a scuffle behind the net, the puck ricocheted out in front, allowing Drancak to capitalize from the low slot and beat netminder Reid Dyck.
Arizona Coyotes 2022 First Rounder Conor Geekie scores his 35th goal of the season for the Broncos on the Power Play to make is a 5-3 game with just 7 seconds left in the second frame. The assists on the goal went to Matthew Ward and Clarke Caswell.–But again, the Broncos regained their two-goal lead with a power play tally off the stick of Conor Geekie with 6.3 seconds remaining in the period.
Shots in the second period were 9-6 for the Rebels
Luke Mistelbacher scored his second goal of the game just 46 seconds into the third period to give the Broncos a 6-3 lead. The assist on the goal went to Conor Geekie.–Mistelbacher notched his second of the evening just 46 seconds into the third period to up the visitors’ lead to 6-3.
Jhett Larson got his 13th goal of the season at 3:50 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Mats Lindgren and Frantisek Formanek.–the Rebels replied three minutes later when Jhett Larson, from the low slot, converted a nifty down low feed from Mats Lindgren.
Mats Lindgren got his 8th goal of the season with just a minute remaining in the game to put the Rebels within one making the game 6-5. The assists on the goal went to Ollie Josephson and Frantisek Formanek.–With Stoesser on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, the Rebels pulled to within one with a minute remaining on Lindgren’s eighth of the season, a wrister from the high slot following a perfect pass from Ollie Josephson.
Rylan Gould then puts one into the empty net with the assist on the goal going to Conor Geekie with just 39 second left in the game.–But Gould buried an empty netter 21 seconds later to seal the deal.
Shots on goal in the third period were 19-6 for the Rebels. The Rebels outshot the Broncos in the game 38-25.
Winkler, Manitoba native and Boston Bruins 2022 sixth rounder Reid Dyck made 33 saves on the 38 shots that he faced for the win for the Broncos. For the Rebels Chase Wutzke made 9 saves on the 13 shots that faced in the first period. He was replaced by Rhett Stoesser for the last 2 period. Stoesser made 9 saves on the 11 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Clarke Caswell 2) Frantisek Formanek 3) Luke Mistelbacher
Attendance in Red Deer was 4,515
Rebels next game is Saturday March 2nd against the Calgary Hitmen in Red Deer at 7pm
The Rebels have recalled Luke Vlooswyk (D, ’07, Calgary) for tonight’s game versus Swift Current
I usually do not write much about coaching. But figured this was an important part of news. LINK– Seems silly at this time of the year. But what do I know.
Brent Sutter, President and General Manager of the Red Deer Rebels, announced that the club and head coach Derrick Walser have mutually agreed to part ways. The team has named Dave Struch as Interim Head Coach for the rest of the season. Sutter expressed gratitude for Walser’s contributions and work ethic, but acknowledged the team’s inconsistent performance. Struch, who has extensive coaching experience in the WHL, will officially join the Rebels on Sunday.