The Red Deer Rebels scored twice in the first period and then tightened their defense to secure a 2-1 victory against the WHL’s top team, the Saskatoon Blades, on Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
Hunter Mayo scored from the point to make it a 1-0 game from Ollie Josephson and Jake Missura at 5:11 of the first period. That is Mayo’s 6th goal of the season and has him as the leader for goals in the WHL by defenceman in the early campaign. That is also Mayo’s 100th career WHL point.
In the final two minutes of the opening frame, after the Rebels killed three-straight Saskatoon power plays Jhett Larson made it a 2-0 game at 18:22 of the first period with the assists going to Carson Birnie and Matthew Gard.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-8 for the Blades
Toronto Maple Leafs 2022 7th rounder Brandon Lisowsky gets the Blades on the board at 4:47 of the second frame. The assists on the goal went to Bethune, Saskatchewan native Ben Riche and the Blades first round selection in the 2022 WHL bantam draft White City, Saskatchewan native Isaac Poll.
Shots on goal in the second period were 18-12 for the Rebels
After a scoreless third period the shots on goal were 9-6 for the Rebels. The Rebels outshot the Blades in the game 35-31.
Chase Wutzke made 30 saves on the 31 shots that he faced for the win for the Rebels. For the Blades Fort St John, BC native and Columbus Blue Jackets 2024 second rounder Evan Gardner made 33 saves on 35 shots for the Blades.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Chase Wutzke 2) Evan Gardner 3) Hunter Mayo
Attendance in Red Deer was 3,852
Rebels next game is October 19th Sunday at 4pm in Red Deer against the Edmonton Oil Kings
Connor Levis is so good he got 1st and 3rd star in the Vancouver Giants 10-1 thrashing of the Prince Albert Raiders Saturday night. LINK
