Rebels Defeat Americans 3-1

Exciting night at Peavey Mart Centrium as Red Deer Rebels triumph over Tri-City Americans 3-1. Carson Birnie’s early goal set the tone, followed by Talon Brigley’s accidental rebound. Despite Deagan McMillian’s response, Mats Lindgren’s power play sealed the deal. Eventful with a disallowed goal and goaltender switch. Rebels dominate shots in all periods.

Tri Cities was last in Red Deer February of 2020. This game would of been the return of Kyle Kelsey but I am assuming he is injured.

Carson Birnie scored for the Rebels just 29 seconds into the game from Samuel Drancak and Dwayne Jean Jr. to make it a 1-0 Rebels game.–In just 29 seconds, the Rebels swiftly secured the first goal when Carson Birnie received a corner pass from Samuel Drancak on the side of the net and skillfully maneuvered the puck past goaltender Lukas Matecha.

Talon Brigley gave the Rebels a 2-0 lead at 18:18 of the first period with the assist from Kalan Lind.- The Rebels doubled their lead late in the opening frame when Kalan Lind went hard to the net and was stopped by Matecha, with the rebound glancing off the skate of Talon Brigley and into the net.

Rebels outshot the Americans 19-7 in the first period.

Vernon, BC native 18 year old Deagen McMillan puts the Americans on the board and makes it 2-1. With the assists on the goal going to former Calgary Hitmen Carter MacAdams and Moose Jaw, SK native Ethan Peters at 7:23 of the middle frame.

Mats Lindgren scored his 5th goal of the season to give the Rebels a 3-1 lead on the Power Play at 5:38 of the second period. Assists on the goal to Kai Uchacz and Kalan Lind.-But with Tri-City’s Merrek Arprin sitting in the box for a hooking penalty, Red Deer’s Mats Lindgren pushed his team’s lead to 3-1 when he scored his fifth goal of the season with a blast from the blue line. At 15:43, Kai Uchacz and Lind claimed the assists for the power play goal.

Shots in the second period were 19-7 again for the Rebels.

Shots in the third period were 11-5 for the Rebels with the Rebels outshooting the Americans in the game 49-19.

Chase Wutzke stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced for the win for the Rebels. While Americans goalie Lukas Matecha made 35 saves on the 37 shots he faced before being replaced by Armaan Kaila in the third period who stopped all 12 shots that he faced. In other words the Rebels Brett Hulled the Americans in shots.

Three Stars of the game were 1) Mats Lindgren 2) Kalan Lind 3) Kai Uchacz

Attendance in Red Deer was 3,422

Rebels next game is Saturday January 13th against the Edmonton Oil Kings in Red Deer.

Goaltender Taylor Tabashniuk (’07 – Regina, SK) has joined the club as an affiliate player Goaltender Rhett Stoesser is day-to-day with a lower body injury. Tanashniuk plays for the Regina Pat Canadiens of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League. He was a 6th round pick of the Rebels in the 2022 WHL Bantam Draft.

NHL Central Scouting Bureau mid-season rankings North American Skaters Ollie Josephson – 43rd Samuel Drancak – 221st North American Goaltenders Chase Wutzke – 13th Rhett Stoesser – 28th

For the Tri City Americans their Euro Imports are ranked as North Americans as they play here. Max Curran is the 26th ranked North American skater and Lukas Matecha is the 9th ranked North American Goalie. So two Czech guys ranked on a team named the Americans in a League called the Canadian Hockey League.