The Red Deer Rebels put up a strong fight against the Western Hockey League’s top team, the Everett Silvertips, in a 6-3 loss Tuesday night at the Marchant Crane Centrium. The Rebels matched the visitors stride for stride through much of the game, even outshooting them 36-32 overall, with goals from Cameron Kuzma, Kalder Varga, and Tyson Yaremko. Despite the defeat snapping their three-game win streak, it was one of Red Deer’s most competitive performances of the season against a powerhouse that has dominated the league—and much of the CHL—all year.Everett, now 42-6-2-1 and boasting the circuit’s best record with a .850 points percentage, extended their winning streak to 10 games and clinched the Western Conference’s first playoff berth of the season. Highly touted prospect Landon DuPont led the way with a goal and two assists, while the Silvertips capitalized on a decisive second period where they scored three times. Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid pointed to those goals as self-inflicted: “They’re a very good team, obviously, but we kind of beat ourselves in the second period… those are on us. That’s something we can control.” The young Red Deer squad—averaging just 17.67 years old—sits 19-28-2-2 and eighth in the Eastern Conference. They host the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday before facing the Lethbridge Hurricanes Sunday afternoon at the Centrium.
Anaheim Ducks 2024 3rd rounder Tarin Smith makes it 1-0 on the first shot of the game on the stick side just 51 seconds into the game. The assists on the goal went to a pair of Finns in Matias Vanhanen and Julius Miettinen.
Matias Vanhanen makes it 2-0 Silvertips on the Power Play at 4:20 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Landon Dupont and Carter Bear.
Cameron Kuzma gets the Rebels on the board at 16:51 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Kalder Varga and Jiri Kamas.–Late in the first period, the Rebels clawed their way back into it. Cameron Kuzma stayed hungry on the forecheck, pouncing on Kalder Varga’s banked shot that bounced off the boards. He wrapped around quick and stuffed the loose puck past Raiden LeGall’s desperate toe save to finally get the Rebels on the scoreboard. Big momentum swing right there.
Kalder Varga ties the game up for the Rebels on the Power Play at 19:17 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Talon Brigley and Cameron Kuzma.–With only 43 seconds left in the first and the Rebels skating with the man advantage, Talon Brigley showed some serious patience down low along the goal line. He patiently worked the puck, then fired a perfect cross-ice dish right to Kalder Varga. Varga wasted no time—one-timer, quick snap, and bam—right through traffic to tie it up heading into the intermission. Huge goal to steal the momentum right before the buzzer!
Shots on goal in the first period were 12 each
Tyson Yaremko gives the Rebels a lead at 3:18 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Beckett Hamilton and Poul Andersen.–The Rebels kept the fire burning right into the second period. Poul Andersen fought through traffic on the breakout, shaking off an Everett defender like it was nothing, then slid a sharp pass ahead to Beckett Hamilton. Hamilton made a quick little tap to Tyson Yaremko in stride, and Yaremko buried a clean forehand shot to put Red Deer ahead. Nice tic-tac-toe play—smooth, quick, and exactly the kind of finish that swings games!
Silvertips tie it up at 3 when former Regina Pat Jaxsin Vaughn scores his 17th goal of the season. The assists on the goal went to Nanaimo, BC native Jesse Heslop and Everett’s first round 19th overall pick in the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft Mirco Dufour.
Team Canada World Junior Bronze Medalist and Detroit Red Wings 2025 first rounder Connor Bear makes it 4-3 for the Silvertips at 11:36 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Finn Julius Miettinen and Calgary native Landon Dupont.
The second player to ever get exceptional player status in the WHL Landon Dupont makes it 5-3 with a blast from the point at 15:38 of the second period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Carter Bear and 20 year old former Swift Current Bronco Rylan Gould.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-13 for the Rebels
Julius Miettinen scored into the empty net at 16:53 of the third period unassisted to make it a 6-3 game.
Shots on goal in the third period were 9-7 for the Rebels. The Rebels ended up outshooting the Silvertips 36-32 in the game.
Former MJHL Niverville Nighthawk Raiden LeGall made 33 saves on the 36 shots that he faced for the win for the Silvertips. For the Rebels Matthew Kondro stopped 26 of the 31 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Carter Bear 2) Kalder Varga 3) Landon Dupont
Attendance in Red Deer was 3026
Rebels next game is Friday February 13th when the Medicine Hat Tigers come to town
I just left this here as I thought this guy from Everett did a great job doing an arena tour of the arena.