The Red Deer Rebels faced a tough challenge against the Eastern Conference-leading Edmonton Oil Kings and ultimately fell 5-2 on Friday night at the Centrium in front of 3,521 fans.Despite several quality chances in the third period as they tried to mount a comeback, the Rebels couldn’t solve Edmonton’s strong defensive effort. The Oil Kings brought their top performance and capitalized on Red Deer’s mistakes. The game swung heavily on special teams: the Rebels scored once on the power play but surrendered two goals while short-handed, as Edmonton converted twice in four opportunities. “They’ve got a pretty good team,” the coaching staff noted afterward. “We didn’t play our best, and we didn’t play our worst. When you play a team like that, you’ve got to be at your best, and we made some errors that cost us.”Penalties proved costly. “We can’t put them on the power play. A couple of our penalties weren’t great, but special teams are always going to be involved. It was a factor, but five-on-five we were just a little disjointed, and sometimes that happens. ”In the end, the combination of self-inflicted mistakes, Edmonton’s lethal power play, and some disconnection at even strength left the Rebels on the wrong side of the 5-2 final.
Former Tri City American Czech Import Max Curran opens up the scoring to make it a 1-0 Oil Kings game at 6:18 of the first period on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Lukas Sawchyn and Miroslav Holinka.
Ty Coupland tied the game up for the Rebels at 14:34 of the first period with his 7th goal of the season on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Samuel Drancak and Beckett Hamilton.
University of North Dakota commit Ethan MacKenzie tied the game up less than a minute later at 15:30 of the first period to make it a 2-1 Oil Kings game. Assists on the goal went to Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka and Lukas Sawchyn.
Shots on goal in the first period were 12-9 for the Rebels
20 year old Czech Import Miroslav Holinka made it a 3-1 Oil Kings game at 4:49 of the second period on the Power Play unassisted. It was Holinka’s 13th goal of the season.
2024 5th overall WHL Bantam draft pick Kayden Stroeder made it a 4-1 Oil Kings game at 14:30 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Colorado Avalanche 2024 5th round pick Max Curran and former Sherwood Park Crusader Poul Andersen.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-4 for the Oil Kings
Keith McInnis scored for the Rebels at 7:45 of the third period the assists on the goal went to Nate Yellowaga and Matus Lisy.
Max Curran scored his 10th goal of the season into the empty net to make it a 5-2 Oil Kings game at 17:17 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Andrew O’Neill and San Diego, California native Noa Ta’amu.
Shots on goal in the third period were 10-8 for the Rebels. The Oil Kings outshot the Rebels in the game 32-26
Parker Snell made 24 saves on the 26 shots that he faced for the win for the Oil Kings. For the Rebels Peyton Shore stopped 27 of the 31 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Miroslav Holinka 2) Max Curran 3) Beckett Hamilton
Attendance in Red Deer was 3521
Rebels next game is Sunday September 30th in Calgary against the Hitmen.
I tried to watch that CHL USA challenge earlier this week and switched to the Flames game instead. They could of done a game like that way better. Bring back the old way or have it so it is against all the best non drafted kids playing in the US. McKenna and Verehoff should of been playing with the US.
Rebels released Arjun Bawa earlier in the week which opens up a 20 year old spot. I have a feeling he will end up with a BCHL team. Probably one in the Vancouver metro area. They have brough tup Owen DeWitt and Cash Arcand-Vandale who both played last night.
