Tuesday night at the Art Hauser Centre the Red Deer Rebels pulled off a gutsy 4-3 comeback win over the top-seeded Prince Albert Raiders, storming back in the third with three straight unanswered goals—including two just 13 seconds apart—to steal the game after trailing most of the night. The Raiders had the lead after two periods and looked in control, but things fell apart in the final eight minutes: Beckett Hamilton cut it to 3-2 with 7:16 left, Matej Mikes tied it on the power play at 2:49, and right off the next faceoff Cameron Kuzma ripped one from distance that hit the post and beat goalie Bass for the winner. Matthew Kondro was a beast in net, turning aside 45 shots to keep Red Deer alive. The victory bumped the Rebels to 23-32-2-2 and 50 points, holding them a single point ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors—who upset the Calgary Hitmen 4-2 the same night—while closing the gap on seventh-place Regina Pats (who lost to Medicine Hat) to just three points with nine games to go. It was only the second time all season Red Deer won after trailing after 40 minutes, and just the second time Prince Albert dropped one when leading after two. Aleksey Chichkin picked up another goal and assist in back-to-back games, Cole Temple returned after missing 18 games with a lower-body injury, and forward Tyson Yaremko left early with an apparent injury and didn’t return. Fans watching couldn’t help thinking this felt like a sneak preview of a possible first-round playoff matchup.
Kazakh import Alisher Sarkenov opened up the scoring for the Raiders finishing off a beautiful pass from Vancouver Canucks 2025 first rounder Braeden Cootes at 1:57 of the first period. The other assist on the goal went to St. Cloud University commit Jonah Sivertson.
2-0 for the Raiders at 8:53 of the first period when Brayden Dube scored his 21st goal of the season. Assists on the goal went to WJC Bronze Medalist Braeden Cootes and the second overall pick in the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft Victoria, BC native Brock Cripps
Shots on goal in the first period were 23-6 for the Raiders
Aleksey Chichkin gets the Rebels on the board to make it a 2-1 game at 5:34 of the second period. The assist on the goal went to Matej Mikes.–Aleksey Chichkin jumped into the rush with Landon MacSwain and followed him to the net, poking home a loose puck past Raiders goalie Steele Bass to cut the deficit in half.
It became a 3-1 Raiders game when when Kelowna, BC native Maddix McCagherty scored his 18th goal of the season at 15:18 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to former Red Deer Rebel Evan Smith and 16 year old Prince Albert native Connor Howe.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-13 for the Raiders
Beckett Hamilton got the Rebels back within one at 12:44 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Aleksey Chichkin and Poul Andersen.-Beckett Hamilton just lit the fuse on this comeback! He stormed into the Raders’ end, ripped a laser from the right circle, and suddenly it’s a one-goal hockey game.
Matej Mikes tied the game up for the Rebels at 17:11 of the third period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Cameron Kuzma and Poul Andersen.–With 2:49 to go and the Rebels’ power play absolutely humming, Matej Mikes pounces on a loose, bouncing puck and roofs it! Game tied!
Cameron Kuzma got the Rebels the winning goal to make it 4-3 just 13 seconds later at 17:24 of the third period the assist on the goal went to Patrick Sopiarz.– That goal is going to haunt that goalie forever.
Shots on goal in the third period were 17-11 for the Rebels. The Raiders outshot the Rebels 48-36.
Matthew Kondro made 45 stops on the 48 shots that he faced for the win for the Rebels. For the Raiders High River, Alberta native Steele Bass made 32 saves on the 36 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Matthew Kondro 2) Brayden Dube 3) Cameron Kuzma
Attendance in Prince Albert was 2385
Rebels next game is Wednesday March 4th in Saskatoon against the Blades.
