The Red Deer Rebels suffered another setback, losing 7-2 to the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Despite snapping a 13-game losing streak with a victory over Moose Jaw on Jan. 25, their subsequent defeat to the Calgary Hitmen the following day, and now this loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings, might indicate that the team is veering off course once more.
Roger McQueen. Does he even exist? I have to ask as I have never seen him play. Ever. Even at international tournaments. I hear the name. But have never ever seen him set foot on the ice.
Jhett Larson made it a 1-0 Rebels game at 3:37 of the first period with the assist on the goal going to Ty Coupland.–Jhett Larson opened the scoring. Rushing the right wing side, Larson snapped a quick wrist shot from the top of the circle passed Brandon’s goaltender, Carson Bjarnason.
20 year old Powell River, BC native Luke Shipley ties the game up for the Wheat Kings at 3:41 of the first period getting his 13th goal of the season. Assists on the goal went to Jaxon Jacobsen and former Tri City American Jordan Gavin.– Just 11 seconds later, though, Luke Shipley answered back for Brandon. A defensive fumble by the Rebels during the face-off gave Brandon the opportunity to advance into their zone. There, Jaxon Jacobson passed to Shipley, who spotted an opening and scored, sending the puck to the back of the net.
Ty Coupland made it a 2-1 game for the Rebels at 9:23 of the first period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Nishaan Parmar and Luke Vlooswyk.– The Red Deer powerplay proved effective when four Rebels players smoothly moved the puck around before Nishaan Parmer set up Ty Coupland. From the left faceoff dot, Coupland unleashed a powerful one-timer, scoring his 11th goal of the season and giving the Rebels a 2-1 lead.
Brandon local Jaxon Jacobson ties the game back up for the Rebels at 18:08 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Weyburn, Saskatchewan native and captain Quinn Mantei and former Victoria Royal Luke Shipley.– Under two minutes left in the first period, Jacobson picked Chase Wutzke’s top corner to tie the game at two.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-9 for the Rebels
Quinn Mantei made it a 3-2 game when he scored for the Wheat Kings at 7:52 of the second period with the assist on the goal going to former Campbell River Storm dman Luke Shipley.- Mantei gave the Wheat Kings their first lead of the night early in the second. With Carter Klippenstein setting the screen, Mantei snapped one through traffic that Wutzke got a piece of, but not enough.
Jordan Gavin the second overall pick in the 2021 WHL draft makes it a 4-2 game when he nets his 16th goal of the season at 16:47 of the second period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Jaxon Jacobsen and Sylvan Lake, Alberta native Caleb Hadland.– Following a tough stretch of consecutive power plays by Red Deer, the Wheat Kings capitalized on their own advantage. Jacobson skillfully maneuvered to the far corner before passing the puck back across the crease, where Gavin easily tapped it in for the score.
20 year old former Portland Winterhawk and University of Nebraska-Omaha commit Marcus Nguyen made it a 5-2 Wheat Kings game at 17:53 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Wheatkings leading scorer Nolan Flamand and Luke Shipley.- The final tally of the second period flurry came from the Wheat Kings top line. Nolan Flamand won a battle in front, found the rebound of a Shipley shot, and hooked it over to Nguyen who slapped it into the nearly open net.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-10 for the Wheat Kings
Nicholas Johnson scores his 9th goal of the season to make it a 6-2 game for the Wheat Kings just 35 seconds into the third period while on the Power Play. The helpers on the goal went to Nolan Flamand and Luke Shipley. That is Shipley’s 4th assist and 5th point of the game.- An early third period power play saw the Wheat Kings stretch their lead again. Johnson and Flamand worked a give-and-go, which ended with Johnson rifling a shot off the post and past Wutzke for the 6-2 lead.
Carter Klippenstein makes it a 7-2 game at 5:00 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Dominik Petr and Ponoka, Alberta native Dylan Ronald.- Yet another Wheat King got in on the act late in the third. Dominik Petr found a rebound in front and rather than throw it on goal he dished it off to Klippenstein who calmly slid it in.
Shots on goal in the third period were 15-8 for the Wheat Kings. The Wheat Kings outshot the Rebels 38-31 in the game.
Philadelphia Flyers 2023 second rounder Carson Bjarnason made 29 saves on the 31 shots that he faced for the win for the Wheat Kings. For the Rebels Chase Wutzke made 31 saves on the 38 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Luke Shipley 2) Jaxon Jacobsen 3) Noland Flamand
Attendance in Brandon was 2227
Rebels next game is Friday January 31st in Regina against the Pats
2024 WHL Bantam Draft first round pick of the Red Deer Rebels Owen Pickering was been called up to join the Rebels for their road trip. Noah Milford has also joined them. LINK
