The Red Deer Rebels suffered a tough 4-1 defeat on Friday night to open their home-and-home series against the Calgary Hitmen at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Despite managing just one goal, the Rebels will look to rebound in the rematch on home ice Saturday night.
Russian Import Andrei Molgachev made it a 1-0 game at 19:44 of the first period with the assists on the goal going to Axel Hurtig and Wyatt Pisarczyk.–Andrei Molgachev opened the scoring in the dying seconds of the first period, netting his 11th of the season
Shots on goal in the first period were 20-6 for the Hitmen
Noah Milford got the Rebels on the board at 17:49 of the second period with the assist on the goal going to recently signed 18 year old Sicamous, BC native Owen DeWitt.-In the second period, Red Deer fought back to tie the game. Owen DeWitt jumped on a loose puck in the slot and quickly slid it across the crease, where Noah Milford buried the equalizer by slipping it between the pads of goaltender Eric Tu.
Shots on goal in the second were 12-7 for the Hitmen
Kale Dach gave the Hitmen the go ahead goal just 14 seconds into the third period to make it a 2-1 game. The assist on the goal went to Wyatt Pisarczyk.–With the score tied heading into the final frame, Kale Dach broke the deadlock by redirecting a shot pass from Wyatt Pisarczyk.
Scottsdale, Arizona native Brandon Gorzynski made it a 3-1 game giving the Hitmen the insurance goal they needed at 3:49 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Red Deer native and recent RPI commit Harrison Lodewyk and Kamloops, BC native Hunter Aura.–
West Fargo, North Dakota native Keaton Jundt makes the game 4-1 for the Hitmen at 8:40 of the third period with the assists on the goal going to Wyatt Pisarczyk for his 3rd assist of the game and Brandon Gorzynski.
Shots on goal in the third period were tied at 9 each. The Hitmen however walloped the Rebels in shots the whole game outshooting the Rebels 41-22.
For the Hitmen Surrey BC native Eric Tu made 20 saves on the 21 shots that he faced for the win. For the Rebels Matthew Kondro had a busy night stopping 37 of the 41 shots he got blasted at him all night long.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Wyatt Pisarczyk 2) Brandon Gorzynski 3) Axel Hurtig
Attendance in Calgary was 2999
Rebels next game is Saturday December 13th in Red Deer against the Hitmen again.
The Rebels reassigned 17 year old forward Nolan Schmidt to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the AJHL.
