The Edmonton Oil Kings defeated the Red Deer Rebels 4-2 in the WHL 2025-26 season opener at the Marchant Crane Centrium, attended by over 4,000 fans. Edmonton built a commanding four-goal lead with early goals from Luke Powell and Dylan Dean, followed by Powell’s second and Presley Kerner’s first career goal. The Rebels mounted a third-period comeback with goals from Keith McInnis, a Red Deer native scoring his first WHL goal, and Noah Milford, but Edmonton held firm to secure the win. Rebels coach Marc Habscheid noted the team’s disjointed play in the first two periods as a learning experience, with Edmonton outshooting Red Deer 26-18.
Edmonton native Luke Powell opens up the scoring for the Oil King just 1:22 into the game with the assists on the goal going to 17 year old Leduc, Alberta native Matt Williams.
Maple Grove, Minnesota native and University of Maine commit Dylan Dean makes it a 2-0 game at 6;46 of the first period while on the Power Play. The assist on the goal went to Joe Iginla. That is Dean’s first WHL goal.
Shots on goal in the first period were 9-4for the Oil Kings.
Luke Powell got his second goal of the night at 2:56 of the second period unassisted to make it a 3-0 Oil Kings game.
Kelowna, BC native Presely Kerner makes it a 4-0 game for the Oil Kings at 14:36 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to 20 year old WHL journeyman Niko Tsakumis and 16 year old Jensen Marsh.
Shots on goal in the second period were 13-4 for the Oil Kings
Former Brook Bandit and Red Deer native Keith McInnis opened the scoring for the Rebels at 7:27 of the third period on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Beckett Hamilton and Talon Brigley.
Okotoks, Alberta native Noah Milford scored on a wrap around to cut the deficit by 2 at 9:13 of the third period unassisted.
Shots on goal in the third period were 10-4 for the Rebels. The Oil Kings however outshot the Rebels 26-18 in the game.
For the Oil Kings Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba native Ethan Simcoe stopped 16 of the 18 shots he faced for the win for the Oil Kings. For the Rebels 17 year old Winnipeg native Peyton Shore made 22 saves on the 26 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Luke Powell 2) Keith McInnis 3) Presley Kerner
Attendance in Red Deer was 4073
Rebels next game is Saturday September 20th in Edmonton against the Oil Kings at 4pm.
