The Red Deer Scene

Tigers 2 Rebels 1 (SO)

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Medicine Hat Tigers 2 Red Deer Rebels 1 (shootout)

(Enmax Centrium)

Yes, the Rebels continue to be snake-bitten by the Medicine Hat Tigers, and yes, the team dropped it's final game at home before heading out on a very tough Saskatchewan road trip. But, that's not to say there weren't some positives to take out of Wednesday night's 2-1 shootout loss to their Central Division rivals.

(photo courtesy Brendan Miller - Red Deer Express)

For 40 minutes, there wasn't much in the way of action, as both teams seemed content to limit scoring chances and see how the game would develop. Bretton Cameron gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead on the powerplay int he second, and Rebels F Turner Elson nearly had his third goal in sas many games when he drilled a wrister off the crossbar. As the third period got underway though, Red Deer knew they had 20 minutes to figure out Tigers' netminder Tyler Bunz, who has pretty much been the bane of the Rebels' existence this season.

19 and a half minutes later, they finally would, when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stuffed home his 17th of the season off a mad scramble in front. The shot was the 22nd of the period for Red Deer, who furiously forechecked for almost the entire duration of the final frame.

Red Deer held the play in overtime, but would still see the game go to a shootout, the second on Centrium ice this season. Bunz would stop Willie Coetzee and Brett Ferguson, and the Tigers would get nifty goals from Tristan King and Jace Coyle to put the game away.

Red Deer will play in Prince Albert Friday night before taking on the Blades in Saskatoon Saturday
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-Wednesday night's game marked the final contest for Tiger's head coach Willie Desjardins until after New Year's, as he'll head to Regina for Team Canada's WJC selection camp. Good luck Willie!

-The shots in the third period read 22-3 in favor of the Rebels, the largest disparity we've seen so far this season.

-F Brett Ferguson got into a rare scrap in the first period against Tigers F Matt McKay. Ferguson took a clear decision with a flurry of jabs and uppercuts that left McKay one step behind the entire way.

-There were about 18 people in the stands. When is the last time we've seen a real crowd at the Centrium that wasn't for a home opener? The answer to that I suppose would be the first game after Christmas last season, but those nights where people outnumber empty seats are few and far between. The Enmax Centrium is an absolute church these days. Good plays, quite literally, get a smattering of applause.

Monday Morning

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Sorry for no weekend blogging. I found myself instead shovelling, digging and thawing out my car. Winter has hit Red Deer like a ton of bricks, and if you don't have a 4 X 4, it's been a nightmare, especially on the side residential streets.

I don't think the Red Deer Rebels will mind the snow too much though. What a weekend it was for them. A road win to kick off the weekend Friday, 4-3 over Lethbridge, and then a stunning 5-1 victory over Saskatoon Saturday, one of the top-ranked teams in the CHL.

When the dust (or snow) clears, it means that at 15-14, Red Deer is BACK ABOVE the .500 mark for the first time since they were 2-1 back on September 25th.

Here are my three stars of the weekend.

1) Adam Kambeitz - He was my big for breakout player this season, and after a goal in the first game of the season, it had been a long streak of offensive futility, culminated by a healthy scratch one night. Slowly but surely though, the 17 year-old Coaldale product has found his game, and played like a man possessed over the weekend. 2 goals and an assist on Friday, and a very dangerous performance Saturday, including an assist on Turner Elson's shorthanded goal.

2) Turner Elson - Kambeitz' partner in crime. Turner potted a goal and an assist in Friday's victory, and then supplied the backbreaker while killing a penalty Saturday. Plenty of energy, plenty of spunk, and growing into a top-notch agitator. However, when discussing training and fitness testing with him, I was unimpressed with the way he laughed when I revealed to him what my body fat % was just measured in at. smartass.

3) Darcy Kuemper - Back to back wins. 19 saves Friday, and then a stellar 35 save performance Saturday. I thought Kuemper was sensational against the Blades, and absolutely oozed confidence between the pipes.

So all of a sudden, the standings look a lot better for Red Deer. Still 10th in the conference, the Rebels now have games in hand on all nine teams ahead of them. They sit just five points back of 6th place Regina, and while they sit seven points back of 5th Prince Albert, they have five games in hand on the Raiders. They'll begin to make those up Wednesday night as once again, they host the Medicine Hat Tigers.

More notes:

-F Landon Ferraro remained in Vancouver over the weekend, seeing a specialist and getting treatment on his troublesome knee. Rather than rush back, Ferraro needs to stay on the sidelines this time until fully healthy, as a 100% 37-goal man will be a huge boost to this team, who has had one of their top snipers at full speed for all of four periods this season.

-F Daulton Siwak was battling a fever Saturday night, and didn't see much ice time against the Blades. This comes after playing maybe his best game of the season Friday night, and picking up his first WHL point to boot.

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Now some Monday reading:

-Hopefully after a gold medal winning performance in Vancouver, Red Deer legend Jeremy Weatherspoon will call an end to a brilliant speedskating career:

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/speed-skating/news/newsid=21690.html

-One of the most pleasant guys you will ever meet, Sylvan Lake's Lyndon Rush pilots Canada to a bronze on the world cup bobsled circuit:

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/worldcupwatch/sport=bs/newsid=21635.html#everything+coming+together+rush

-Former AAA Midget Optimist Rebel Corey Campbell, who captained the 2007 squad to a silver medal finish at the Telus Cup, scored the OT winner for the AJHL's Olds Grizzlies Sunday night.

-Call me oblivious, but I didn't realize Red Deer's Justin Feser had scored 14 goals already with the Tri-City Americans. Keep it up Justin.

-My pal and I have been playing what we call the "Jordan Eberle game". We check the Regina Pats boxscore at various times, and once learning the score, we predict what Eberle's stat line will be like. Last night, on four Pats goals, he had 2g and 2a. Remarkable.

- Cam Moon and I argued over the weekend as to whether it was good or bad that the Rebels will avoid Eberle later this month when the Pats visit the Enmax Centrium. (He is, after all, going to be with Team Canada preparing for the World Juniors) Mooner says he's glad he won't be in the lineup. Meanwhile, I'm severely disappointed we don't get to see him.

-Red Deer golfer Adrienne White is just one solid round of golf away from acheiving her dream. White heads into the fifth and final round of LPGA Q School this morning in Daytona Beach at two under par, good for a tie for 9th place overall. if she can hold on to a top-20 finish, White will receive priority status on the LPGA tour for the upcoming season.

Thursday Blogging

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:31:00 +0000

-Rebels back in action tomorrow night in Lethbridge - 7 p.m. Before returning home Saturday to face the Saskatoon Blades at the Enmax Centrium - 7:30 p.m.

-The standings have been a funny thing this season. At 13-14, Red Deer has been decent, yet not spectacular so far. It's been a while since a mid-week game, so the games in hand are piling up. Three on most teams, four on others. Yet, ground gained in any capacity has been hard to come by. As of today, Red Deer sits in a familiar spot, 10th in the conference, six points back of a playoff spot. When does crunch time begin? As Rebel fans, are you worried with the current standings situation, or is it only a matter of time before this squad reels off a few wins in a row and gets into a playoff spot?

-Hockey Canada named the 36-man World Jr. selection camp roster yesterday. Among the group that will be wittled down to 22 are 10 WHL'ers:

Jordan Eberle - Regina Pats
Colten Teubert - Regina Pats.
Brayden Schenn - Brandon Wheat Kings
Scott Glennie - Brandon Wheat Kings
Martin Jones - Calgary Hitmen
Brandon Kozun - Calgary Hitmen
Brandon McMillan - Kelowna Rockets
Travis Hamonic - Moose Jaw Warriors
Jared Cowen - Spokane Chiefs
Cody Eakin - Swift Current Broncos

Obviously, Canada is so strong in the jr age group, and there will always be second -geussing, and in a lot of ways, no wrong decisions. Some of the notables left off this list though include Wheat Kings defenseman Colby Robak, Seattle Thunderbirds goaltender Calvin Pickard, Saskatoon Blades defenseman Stefan Elliot, Lethbridge Hurricanes F Carter Ashton, and most notably for me, Calgary Hitmen blueliner Michael Stone.

There was thought that Rebels F Willie Coetzee, who has had a great season, had an outside chance of a camp invite, but in the end, it proved to be too deep of a group to crack. I'm sure Willie is disappointed, as he showed pretty well in his one game Subway Super Series stint.

Perhaps next year could be the season we see the first Rebel play for Canada since Brandon Sutter in 2007, as Landon Ferraro and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could both be in the mix.

-Meanwhile, speaking of Ferraro, he's back in Vancouver currently seeing a specialist after re-aggravating his knee injury in Friday's 4-1 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. This has been a pretty troubling and frustrating injury for Landon, and while he was playing much better in recent weeks, he has still been lacking that extra bit of explosivity in open ice that helped make him a 37-goal scorer last season.

-Red Deer expects to have D Colin Archer and F Daulton Siwak back in the lineup this weekend. Both missed time with concussion symptoms. I'm interested to see Siwak's return and a possible shot at a more offensive role.

-I chatted with former Rebel Martin Hanzal this week:
http://www.reddeerexpress.com/article/20091202/EXP1101/312029996/-1/EXP11/former-rebels-star-part-of-phoenix-rising

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Rebels vs Tigers - Saturday night.

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:11:00 +0000

Once again, it's back to the .500 mark for the Red Deer Rebels after a 4-1 win Friday night over Moose Jaw.

Andrei Kudrna and Landon Ferraro combined for six points, while Ryan Nugent Hopkins put the game away with a beauty in the third, his 14th of the season.

Tonight, Red Deer gets the chance to move ABOVE .500 for the first time since September the 25th, when they were 2-1.

Notes vs Med Hat Tigers:

- As always, tonight is a 7:30 start. I'll have the pregame show starting at 7 (www.1067thedrive.fm)

- Josh Cowen left Friday's game with a shoulder injury. He will dress tonight, but I would expect he won't see as much ice as he usually does.

- Once again, 15 year-old D Matt Dumba is in the lineup, as Colin Archer remains out. Dumba's debut was decent Friday, but I think there is more in the tank, and we'll see it tonight. (Nothing like sky high expectations for a 15 year old!) Dumba, by the way, is from Calgary, but spent his early years in Regina, and is a big Rider fan, along with F Brett Ferguson, G Kraymer Barnstable, and assistant coach Bryce Thoma.

Here are the lines tonight: It will be Darcy Kuemper vs Tyler Bunz ingoal

Kudrna - Ferraro - Cowen

Deagle - Nugent-Hopkins - Coetzee

Scheidl - Ferguson - Persson

Mayor - Kambeitz - Elson

Game night

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:01:00 +0000

Red Deer Rebels vs Moose Jaw Warriors - 7:30 p.m.

I'll have the pregame show starting at seven. www.1067thedrive.fm

-Rebels 15 year-old Matt Dumba is expected to make his WHL debut tonight, and play tomorrow as well. Due to sketchy road conditions though, he was still running late at last check. Hopefully Dumba gets here soon. Looking forward to watching what will be the first of many WHL games.

Nathan Green is out tonight, and will be gone 6-8 weeks. Colin Archer is still out indefinitely will post-concussion as well. The good news is, Justin Weller (ribs) makes his return to the lineup.

This is how things stack up. It will be Darcy Kuemper vs Jeff Bosch in net.

Kudrna - Ferraro - Cowen

Deagle - Nugent Hopkins - Coetzee

Scheidl - Ferguson - Persson

Mayor - Kambeitz - Elson

Some Wednesday Reading

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Life without 20 year-old F Nathan Green begins on Friday night, as the Red Deer Rebels play host to the Moose Jaw Warriors. (7:30 p.m) - 7 p.m. pregame show http://www.1067thedrive.fm/
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-18 year-old Slovak F Andrei Kudrna, who has been very good for Red Deer ever since coming over from Vancouver in exchange for Cass Mappin, will be heading to Saskatoon/Regina this Christmas to play in the the WJC.

From the Rebels this morning:

18-year old forward Andrej Kudrna will play for Slovakia at the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships December 26th to January 5th in Saskatoon and Regina. Kudrna will leave the Rebels December 15th to join Team Slovakia in Prince Albert for their training camp.

Kudrna was acquired by the Rebels from the Vancouver Giants October 6th. He has 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points in 21 games since coming to Red Deer and is in his second season in the WHL.

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- 19 year-old F Willie Coetzee will be in Kelowna tomorrow night as part of team WHL in the CHL Subway Super Series against the Russian Selects. Coetzee won't play tonight in game one in Victoria.
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-Former Rebel captain Ted Vandermeer, out of Caroline, AB, is back at home, and will miss the rest of the CHL's Missouri Mavericks season after a chronic athritic condition became too painful in his hips and back. Doctors are hoping that medication will do its work, and Ted can recover fully before getting back up to speed.

Ted, who last played with the Rebels in 2006-07, is the youngest of the six Vandermeer brothers, five of whom play pro hockey, (Pete, Jim, Dan, Bill, Ted) while the other, Joe, plays for the Chinook League's Bentley Generals.

Bill, now in his 4th Central League season, also toils for the Mavericks, as does former Rebel Karey Pieper, who is getting a chance to follow his dream and play pro hockey.
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-With two more assists last night, former Rebel D Jordan Henry, out of Milo, AB, is having a career season with the Rochester Americans, Florida's AHL affiliate.

Henry, a great skater and solid two-way guy but not necessarily a natural offensive defenseman, now has two goals and eight points in 18 games this season. After going undrafted in his WHL career, Henry was signed to a contract by the Panthers two and a half years ago, and has gotten better and better as a pro. You'll see him in the NHL one day.

- From Dan Rosen at NHL.com -A piece on Sylvan Lake native Derek Morris growing up in Central Alberta: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=507303

- If you haven't read it, John Buccigross gives a very interesting read on Brian Burkes' son, Brendan, who is gay.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=4685761

- Go 'Riders.

AW

Green out for a while

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:21:00 +0000

As per head coach Jesse Wallin today:

Rebels 20 year-old F Nathan Green will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a broken fibula suffered in the Rebels game Sunday night in Medicine Hat. The break will not require surgery, meaning we could see Green back in the lineup sometime early in the New Year.

This is obviously as huge blow for Red Deer, as Green has done nothing but play hard and play well since coming over from Brandon in an off-season trade. scoring nine goals and 22 points in 25 games.

On the bright side though, with the way the gruesome injury was described to me....a broken fibula with no surgery is absolutely the best case scenario. We could just as easily been talking about a spiral fracture or a torn ACL and MCL that could have put Green on the sidelines for months, if not the season.

What does this injury mean? Landon Ferraro and Willie Coetzee will have to really take this team on their shoulders offensively. Ferraro, most notably, has really been coming on since returning from injury. We have yet to see him in full-fledged sniper form, but it's been a steady progression. The progression will have to end this weekend though.

Ferraro's time to shine, is now.

Rebels fall in Med Hat - GO GREEN

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Rebels lose in Medicine Hat.

You've been able to copy and paste that headline for quite some time here in Red Deer.

For the 11th consecutive regular season game, the Rebels lose on the road to the Tigers, this time, giving up three powerplay goals in a 3-1 final.

Here's the summary:

1. M.H Etem, (18) (King, Vey), 18:53 (PP)

2. M.H Etem, (19) (Vey, Kundratek), 7:45 (PP)
2. M.H Kundratek, (1) (Etem, MacKay), 12:59 (PP)

3. R.D Nugent-Hopkins, (13) (Coetzee, Morin), 7:34 (PP)

-Five on five, Red Deer was solid, but obviously, the Tigers powerplay was the deciding factor.

-Darcy Kuemper made 30 saves in his second consecutive start, while Tyler Bunz was named the game's first star, turning aside 38 shots in the Tiger net.

Rebels head coach Jesse Wallin had this to say:

"I thought it was a tough loss. We haven't had a win in this buliding for a while, and I thought we played real well in the first period. We did a real good jo and in stretches during the game we played well, but unfortunately our penalty kill didn't get the job done tonight. We gave up three powerplay goals and it was just a matter of execution. They didn't do anything different than what we expected to see, we just didn't execute. There were a couple of missed assignments that made it into our net."

"I thought we came at them in the third, had some opportunities, got a goal on our powerplay which gave us some life, but at the end of the day we came up short."

-So, it runs the road regular-season losing streak against the Tigers to 11 straight. The last time the Rebels won a regular season matchup in MH was back on November 18th, 2006, when Ted Vandermeer's hat trick goal in overtime gave Red Deer a 5-4 victory.

-The Rebels did win a playoff game in Medicine Hat back in the 2006-07 season (a 6-2 win in game one) but dropped the next three road games of that series.

- Justin Weller was NOT in the Rebels lineup last night. He suffered an injury Saturday night in the second period and left the game against Spokane.

-Next up for the 12-13 Rebels, a crucial home weekend against the Tigers and the Moose Jaw Warriors. Red Deer sits in a tie for 9th in the Eastern Conference, now four points back of the 8th place Swift Current Broncos, and five points back of the 6th place Regina Pats.
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For those of you not familiar, I was born in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. I didn't live there long however, and grew up in the small town of Beaubier, SK, about ten miles north of the U.S. Border.

Like the rest of my kind, I was glued to the TV yesterday, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders punched their ticket to the Grey Cup game with a 27-17 win over Calgary in the West Final. It's a great day to be a Rider fan, although Montreal is going to be a tough test.

I actually don't plan on going to the game in Calgary, but I will be a nervous wreck somewhere in the province. Now that Jim and Jer's on Bremner Ave is shut down, which bar in Red Deer serves at Rider Central?

Donna and Harold Potts, if you're reading the blog today, please accept my congratualatory high-five.

If you need your 'Rider fix this week, make sure you check out Rod Pederson's blog, linked at right. I check it every day.

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To follow up on a story I've followed. Red Deer native Matt Fraser, who play's for the Kootenay Ice, has now raised almost $7900 for the Cranbrook hospital as part of the "Matt Fraser shoot for the stars program". The initiative was totally Matt's brainchild, as his mom and billet's mom have both battled cancer. Ray Ferraro gave Matt's charity a mention on his terrific blog as well. (also linked at right)

Rebels 3 Chiefs 2 / Back to .500

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:04:00 +0000

Red Deer Rebels 3 Spokane Chiefs 2

(Red Deer, AB)

It's been a longstanding mystery in hockey. The first game back on home ice following a long road trip is almost always a bad one for the home team. Saturday night, the Red Deer Rebels decided to buck the trend.

Adam Kambeitz and Landon Ferraro scored in the first period, while Nathan Green scored the game winner at 9:02 on the third, as the Rebels edged the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 at the Enmax Centrium, getting back to the .500 mark at 12-12 this season.

With the game tied at two in the final frame, Green took a nifty backhand pass from Andrei Kudrna while streaking to the net and stuffed one home past Spokane netminder Michael Tadjdeh for his ninth of the season.

Darcy Kuemper made 34 saves for Red Deer, who won their 2nd straight game. Tadjdeh made 20 saves for the Chiefs, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end.

The Rebels begin the second third of their season Sunday night in Medicine Hat against the Tigers (6 p.m. - 106.7 The Drive)

News and Notes

The goal for Ferraro was his third of the season, and sixth point in his last six games. Rebels defenseman Justin Weller left the game early in the second period and did not return. The game marked the Rebels debut for 17 year old F Lane Scheidl. The forward was acquired from the Vancouver Giants early Saturday for 17 year-old F Connor Redmond. The victory for Red Deer was their first over Spokane since November 9th, 2004.

Here's the summary:

1. R.D Kambeitz, (2) (Deagle, Elson), 6:16
1. SPO Johnson, (10) (Brassart, Cowen), 12:24
1. R.D Ferraro, (3) (Coetzee, Borejko), 19:37
3. SPO Johnson, (11) (Wahl, Spurgeon), 5:11 (PP)
3. R.D Green, (9) (Kudrna, Cowen), 9:02

Game Night - Spokane

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Red Deer Rebels vs Spokane Chiefs - 7:30 (Enmax Centrium)

I'll have the pregame show coming up shortly (7 p.m. www.1067thedrive.fm)

-News from earlier today, as the Rebels traded 17 year old Connor Redmond, a former first round, 11th overall bantam selection, to the Vancouver Giants, for 17 year old forward Lane Scheidl.

Scheidl, who has posted two goals and five points in 22 games with the Giants this season, will draw into the lineup tonight, and play with Ryan Nugent Hopkins and one of Colten Mayor/John Persson

Other lines tonight:

kudrna - green - cowen

ferguson - ferraro - coetzee

deagle - kambeitz - elson

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Darcy Kuemper vs former Lethbridge Hurricanes Michael Tagjdeh between the pipes.

I'll have more after the game......

Thursday blogging - MacGregor Sharp

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Of all the Red Deer natives trying to make the National Hockey League and establish themselves as professionals, I think 24 year-old MacGregor Sharp has probably received the least amount of press over the years.

A three-year AJHL'er in Camrose, Sharp went on to a four-year NCAA career with the U of Minnesota-Duluth. In his final season (2008-09) Sharp exploded for 50 points in 43 games, and was promptly signed by the Anaheim Ducks.

Yesterday, the Ducks recalled Sharp, and he should soon be making his NHL debut.

For a bit of history on the Red Deer native, there is a bit of a read right here:

http://anaheimcalling.blogspot.com/2009/04/penalty-kill-macgregor-sharp.html

I will do my best to track down Sharp for an interview in the near future.

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Rebels rookie forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, no surprise, was named to Team Pacific's U17 entry yesterday for the 2009-10 U17 Challenge in Timmins, ONT.

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Petrovic Ranked 3rd by CSB

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:44:00 +0000

After playing the two first games of the season, Rebel's sophomore blueliner Alex Petrovic missed the next 15 contests with a high-ankle sprain, finally returning in time for the Rebs B.C. road trip a week and a half ago.

Even with all that time missed, Petrovic has impressed scouts enough to place third overall among WHL'ers in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's prelimenary rankings for the 2010 entry draft.

Here's the preliminary list:

Western Hockey League Preliminary Rankings - Fall 2009

Skaters
1 CONNOLLY, BRETT - PRINCE GEORGE
2 PYSYK, MARK - EDMONTON
3 PETROVIC, ALEXANDER - RED DEER
4 ETEM, EMERSON - MEDICINE HAT
5 RUTKOWSKI, TROY - PORTLAND
6 NIEDERREITER, NINO - PORTLAND
7 MCILRATH, DYLAN - MOOSE JAW
8 HOWDEN, QUINTON - MOOSE JAW
9 JOHANSEN, RYAN - PORTLAND
10 WEAL, JORDAN - REGINA
11 STONE, MARK - BRANDON
12 HAMILTON, CURTIS - SASKATOON
13 ROSS, BRADLEY - PORTLAND
14 HARRISON, RYAN - PRINCE ALBERT
15 SHINNIMIN, BRENDAN - TRI-CITY
16 INGLIS, CHARLES - SASKATOON
17 MCFAULL, KENDALL - MOOSE JAW
18 SUNDHER, KEVIN - CHILLIWACK
19 BARNETT, J.T. - VANCOUVER
20 MADAISKY, AUSTIN - CALGARY
21 GUDAS, RADKO - EVERETT
22 DAVIDSON, BRANDON - REGINA
23 THERIAU, ALEX - EVERETT
24 MACKENZIE, MATT - CALGARY
25 SUTTER, BRODY - LETHBRIDGE
26 DEPAPE, JORDAN - BRANDON

Goalies
1 PICKARD, CALVIN - SEATTLE
2 SIMPSON, KENT - EVERETT
3 LANIGAN, CAM - EDMONTON
4 BUNZ, TYLER - MEDICINE HAT
5 KOLPPANEN, VILLE - LETHBRIDGE
6 GLOVER, BRANDON - MOOSE JAW

Feeling Healthy - Update!

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:33:00 +0000

At long last, back at work after a brutal battle with the flu.

It was the only stretch of my life that I wished I had a Calgary Flames Jersey.

(Are CGY H1N1 jokes still funny?)

But seriously folks...
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I'm back at work, and the Rebels are back in the city following a highly-succesful 3-2 road trip, so hopefully I'll have plenty of news and notes over the next week.

I have to go back through the last few (ugly) years to look, but off the top of my head, I can't remember the last time the team came back from a road trip actually happy with how many games it had won. 1-3-1, or something similar, had been the usual record upon return. As per multiple documentations, the last four seasons have yielded a total of 40 road wins, or, if you like your math, 10 per season, so three on one trip is obviously an unfamiliar, (and positive) pace. If you're the Rebels, this trip may be a huge turning point in the season when looking back at the end of the season.

The question remains, when we DO look back at the end of the season, what will we see?

After going 3-2 away from home, the Rebels mini-battle with the .500 mark is still ongoing. Through 23 games, the club sits with a record of 11-12, good for 9th in the Eastern Conference, just four points out of sixth, but just three points out of last.

One game away from the 33% mark of the season, I'm curious as to what the fans think. Is this what you envisioned when they dropped the puck at the home opener? Keep in mind, the record of 11-12 comes despite the extended absence of both Landon Ferraro (37 goals last season) and Alex Petrovic (Red Deer's best dman). Every team goes through injuries, but losing, arguably, your two best players is going to hurt any team.

First up, a look back at Saturday night's road-trip finale, a 5-2 win over Chilliwack. Here's the summary:

1. CWK Howse, (16) (Horak), 4:57
1. R.D Nugent-Hopkins, (11) (Ferraro, Coetzee), 9:44
1. R.D Nugent-Hopkins, (12) (Coetzee), 11:26 (PP)
1. R.D Mayor, (1) (Petrovic), 17:03

2. CWK Manning, (4) (Craige, Horak), 0:25 (PP)
2. R.D Ferraro, (2) , 3:07 (PP)

3. R.D Green, (8) , 18:01 (EN/SH)

-After the offense dried up in Vancouver Friday, it regained it's form, scoring five times against a stingy Bruins squad.

-Don't look now, but after a very rough first third of the season, it looks like last year's leading scorer, Landon Ferraro, is heating up. A goal and four assists on the five-game trip constituted Landon's best stretch all season, and now it wouldn't surprise me in the least to be talking about a five goal in six game type of streak a couple of weeks from now.

-With his two goals, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, for the time being, (26 pts) jumps back ahead of Shane McColgan (24 pts) for the (16 year-old) rookie scoring lead. Both of these kids are going to be superstars, if they're not already, and it will be fun seeing their names flip flop among the leaders as the year moves on.

-Does it come as a surprise that Red Deer's road success comes at the same time Alex Petrovic (pictured) returns to the lineup? It shouldn't. Petrovic is quietly the backbone of this hockey team, and his 20-plus minutes logged every night in every situation is a HUGE bonus for the coaching staff. Petrovic had a very solid trip, picking up five assists in five games to go along with an even +/- rating and 18 PIM.

-The biggest star of the road trip though just might have been Josh Cowen. The 18 year old, who had already chipped in with a career-high five goals this season, picked up 3 goals and an assist on the trek, including a two-goal effort in Kamloops. But not to worry, the old adage of "came in as a crusher, now thinks he's a rusher, will soon be an usher" doesn't look like it's going to apply, as Cowen also dropped the gloves three times on the trip, including twice over the weekend. I'm hoping to take a deeper look at Cowen throughout the week.

------
Red Deer now gets to sit back for a few days, and will begin an interesting stretch of hockey starting Saturday night at the Enmax Centrium against Jared Cowen and the Spokane Chiefs.

As history has often dictated, the first game back from a lengthy road trip often spells disaster (for whatever reason) so it will be interesting to see how Red Deer responds. Sunday, it's right back on the road to Medicine Hat. The weekend after, home games against the Warriors and Tigers.
-----

A couple other notes:

-Red Deer's Matt Fraser made his return to the Kootenay Ice lineup over the weekend, putting up two points in two games, including the Overtime winner Sunday in a 4-3 win over Lethbridge.

-Former Rebel captain Brandon Sutter continues to play out of his mind for the Carolina Hurricanes. A goal and an assist for Brandon yesterday as the 'Canes finally ended a 14-game winless streak with a 5-4 shootout win over Minnesota. Sutter has four goals and seven points (both career high's) in just 10 games since his call-up.

-After missing 15 games with a chest injury, Red Deer's Trent Hunter is back in the lineup for the New York Islanders, and has three points (2g, 1a) in three games since. The Islanders aren't a playoff team, but with the type of talent they're starting to assemble, they're just going to get better and better, and Hunter is going to reap the rewards, as he can play with anyone.

Aggresive on the forecheck, a big-time shot, and not afraid to go to the net. The perfect player to skate alongside Tavarez.

Rebels Weekend

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Game night thread:

Red Deer Rebels (8-8) vs Everett Silvertips (7-4) - 7:30 p.m. (Enmax Centrium)

-I'll have the pregame show for you starting at 7 p.m. (www.1067thedrive.fm)

-With a win, the Rebels will climb above the .500 mark for the first time since September the 25th. (a 4-2 victory over Lethbridge)

Last night, the Rebels looked good in a 4-2 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers. Here's the summary:

1. R.D Cowen, (4) (Green, Coetzee), 12:38
1. R.D Cowen, (5) (Coetzee, Morin), 12:56
2. R.D Green, (7) (Kudrna, Ferraro), 2:28
2. R.D Coetzee, (9) (Nugent-Hopkins, Green), 4:39 (PP)
2. M.H Gal, (5) , 13:04 (SH)
3. M.H King, (8) (MacKay, Kundratek), 4:22

The lineup for tonight is as follows:

-Darcy Kuemper makes his 2nd straight start. he stopped 42 shots last night.

Kudrna - Green - Ferraro
Cowen - Nugent-Hopkins - Coetzee
Redmond - Ferguson - Persson
Mayor/Elson - Kambeitz - Siwak

Some evening notes.

-Former Rebel Brandon Sutter scored his first of the season for the Carolina Hurricanes this afternoon in a 6-1 loss to Philly. Even though they lost by five, Brandon had 6 shots on goal and was a +1 in 12:55 of ice time.

Red Deer's Matt Fraser (Kootenay Ice) has started a fundraiser to raise money for Cranbrook's regional hospital. He also has a pretty entertaining blog on the ice website. Check both out here:

http://www.kootenayice.net/?pID=2&nID=1290#1290

Thursday Blogging

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Due to my computer crashing with a nasty virus, (probably H1N1) I did not blog after the Seattle - Red Deer game on Tuesday. Here are some thoughts on Red Deer's 4-3 shootout win.

First , the summary:

1. R.D Green, (5) (Coetzee, Kudrna), 7:46
1. R.D Borejko, (1) (Nugent-Hopkins), 18:53

2. SEA Jacobs, (4) (Rouse, Ramsay), 8:14
2. SEA Nielsen, (1) (Rai, Parker), 13:45
2. SEA Parker, (6) (Chaffin, Elliot), 14:55

3. R.D Green, (6) (Coetzee, Morin), 18:46 (PP)

Shootout - RD 1/3 (Coetzee) SEA 0/3

-Rebels get off to a great start in the first. With the way SEA has struggled to score goals, a 2-0 lead was a nice cushion to have after one. Noone told the T-Birds that though, as they roared back with three straight in the second.

-In the third, the Rebs had all kinds of pressure, but when you only give yourself 20 minutes for a comeback, you take a risk of the other goaltender stealing a game, and Calvin Pickard almost did just that. He made 39 saves, finally surrendering a goal to Green with 1:14 to go. Pickard is the best goaltender I have seen in the WHL this year.

-RD's Kraymer Barnstable made his first home start, and was very good, especially in OT and the shootout. I wouldn's be surprised to see him start once over the weekend.

-With his two assists (he had a dissallowed goal as well) Willie Coetzee has 26 points in 15 games, second in the league behind CGY's Brandon Kozun

-Landon Ferraro is getting very close to a return. We MAY see him Friday night. He's been skating all week.

-The 4-3 shootout win was the first time all season that Red Deer has gone to overtime.

-the win moves the Rebels to 7-8, good for 14 points, all alone in 4th in the Central Division. If the playoffs started today, Red Deer would be 9th in the East, on the outside looking in.

-Rebels take on Med Hat Friday night, and Everett Saturday.
-----------------------

In the last post, I wrote about the arrest of Red Deer boxer Cam O'Connell. Here are some additional thoughts I penned for the Red Deer Express

http://www.reddeerexpress.com/article/20091028/EXP1101/310289980/-1/EXP11/boxing-club-faces-tough-test-following-oconnell-arrest

-The Western Canada U16 Challenge begins this afternoon in Blackfalds. the four-day tourney features the best 15 year-old players from the four Western provinces. Manitoba and Saskatchewan face off at 4 p.m., while Alberta takes on B.C. at 7 p.m.

Playing for Team Alberta - Rebels Bantam Draft selections Matt Dumba, Mason Burr, Joel Hamilton, and Davin Stener. In addition, the three players who were selected ahead of Dumba in the first round are playing as well:

Dereck Pouliot - first overall - SK
Morgan Reilly - second overall - SK
Griffin Reinhardt - third overall - BC

-Former Rebel Martin Hanzal (85 points in 58 games back in 2006-07) scored his first of the season in a 4-1 Pheonix win over Columbus. Hanzal, with his strong skating, 6'5'' frame, and long reach, has been used in an increasing shutdown-defensive role, and Coyotes broadcaster Darren Pang told me last year, "I think he can win a Selke in the coming years".

-Red Deer's Brandon Sutter was called up by the Carolina Hurricanes last week, replacing the suspended Tuomo Ruttuu. Hopefully, Brandon has seen the last of the AHL. He, along with fellow former WHL'ers Zach Boychuck and Drayson Bowman had all been eplaying exceptionally well for Albany.

Unfortunate Story

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000

A story that I unfortunately had to break this morning:

THREE RED DEER MEN WERE CHARGED YESTERDAY IN WHAT POLICE SAY WAS A NATIONAL COCAINE TRAFFICKING RING.

ONE THE THREE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS HIGH PROFILE RED DEER BOXER CAM O'CONNELL, WHO TURNED HIMSELF INTO POLICE, ALONG WITH 23 YEAR OLD MATTHEW EARLS, AND 21 YEAR OLD BRENT CYR.

O'CONNELL, WHO TRAINS DAILY OUT OF THE RED DEER BOXING CLUB, IS AN EIGHT TIME ALBERTA PROVINCIAL BOXING CHAMPION, THE 2007 RINGSIDE WORLD CHAMPION, AND A NATIONAL CHAMP BACK IN 2005.

Cam is profiled at the 3:40 mark of this clip. This whole situation is very, very unfortunate.

http://watch.tsn.ca/clip205195#clip205195

RED DEER BOXING COACH STEVE BOISSON SUPPORTS THE YOUNG FIGHTER.

"I BELIEVE IN CAM O'CONNELL. I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM TO BE THE BEST MAN HE CAN BE. I BELIEVE WITHOUT A DOUBT CAM O'CONNELL HAS INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE RING."

"THE RED DEER BOXING CLUB MAiNTAINS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CHARACTER, PROMOTES THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CHARACTER, AND DOES NOT CONDONE ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, BEHAVIOR, OR THE IMAGE OF SUCH."

POLICE BELIEVE THE SOPHISTICATED OPERATION MOVED BETWEEN 30 AND 50 KILOS AROUND THE COUNTRY EVERY MONTH.

Rebsl add Defenseman

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:31:00 +0000

Red Deer Rebels Trade For Defenceman

The Rebels best defenseman, Alex Petrovic, is still out for at least a couple of weeks with a high ankle sprain. Meanwhile, Nick Bell took a Michael Stone slapshot off the ankle Tuesday, and has a hairline fracture. Add to that the fact the Red Deer was already deploying 20 year-old forward Jordie Deagle on the blueline as well., and the need for another body on the blueline became imperative.

RED DEER, AB – Jesse Wallin, Vice-President of Hockey Operations/Head Coach of the Red Deer Rebels Hockey Club, announced today the team has traded for 18-year old defenceman Aaron Borejko from the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for a 4th round selection in the 2009 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Borejko is in his second season in the WHL, and was a fifth round pick of the Rockets in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft.

With this move, the Rebels have 23 players on their roster. Borejko is expected to play for the Rebels Friday in Medicine Hat.

Aaron Borejko (bohr-AY-koh)
DOB: March 28/91
Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Position: Defence
HT: 6’0”
WT: 205lbs

Year Team GP G A PTS PIM
2008-09 Kelowna 50 1 5 6 28
2009-10 Kelowna 11 0 1 1 6
WHL Totals 61 1 6 7 34

Rebels Vs Hitmen Post Mortem

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0000

Calgary Hitmen 6 Red Deer Rebels 3

Now first off, I can honestly say that I have never, in my recollection, ever made an overly critical comment about the officiating at a Rebels game. To have an overly-opinionated view of a ref means to have a direct emotional attachment to the game. Coaches will have this, fans will have this, players will have this, parents will have this. I haven't, and I am a big believer in the "human error" component of a game.

That being said, there is a first time for everything, and in my five years hosting the Rebels broadcasts, last night was the first time I have ever seen a referee undoubtably, directly decide a hockey game with 30 seconds of officiating.

This matchup, a very good CGY Hitmen squad against the streaking RD Rebels, had all the makings of a great battle. With the score tied 2-2 in the second period, this game was quite literally up for grabs, and if there was ever a time for Red Deer to knock off Calgary (0-7-1 in their last eight meetings) this may have been it.

And then, this sequence of events:

1) Josh Cowen gets hit from behind by Tyler Fiddler. Intentional or not, a very dangerous play. Cowen piles into the boards, and thankfully, gets up, albeit slowly. No call.

2) Jordie Deagle jumps Fiddler, sticking up for Cowen. Fiddler goes down, and Deagle throws some punches.

3) Deagle is handed a four-minute double minor, along with a 10 minute misconduct.

4) The crowd, and the Rebels bench are absolutely livid. Jesse Wallin makes his thoughts known, and is handed a two-minute bench minor, resulting in a two minute 5 on 3 for the Hitmen. (Along with an additional two minutes)

5) Calgary's vaunted powerplay strikes twice, with authority. Michael Stone. (he's good) Brandon Kozun. (he's good too). Game. Set. Match.

-The biggest thing with this sequence of events that I don't like, and I would say this about any game anywhere in this situation, is that in a 2-2 hockey game, an evenly matched hockey game, when Tyler Fiddler ran Josh Cowen from behind, exactly the kind of dangerous hit the WHL is trying to eliminate, he WON his team the game. How does this accomplish anything?

Here's the summary:

1. R.D Nugent-Hopkins, (9) (Kudrna, Bell), 9:27 (PP)
1. CAL Broda, (4) (Fiddler, Madaisky), 15:20 (PP)

2. CAL Madaisky, (3) (Broda), 4:36
2. R.D Kudrna, (7) (Coetzee, Green), 5:39
2. CAL Stone, (4) (Kozun, Fiddler), 7:41 (PP)
2. CAL Kozun, (6) (Broda, Stone), 8:56 (PP)
2. CAL Schaber, (4) (Madaisky), 9:20

3. R.D Green, (4) (Coetzee, Morin), 4:41 (PP)
3. CAL Stone, (5) (Kozun, Schultz), 13:51

-As you can see, three goals in 1:40 did the Rebels in. Although the fifth Hitmen goal came 5 on 5. Red Deer was clearly rattled at that point, but they get get credit for battling at the end of the second and in the third. They nearly made a game of it again.

-It wasn't Calgary's fault the game went like this. I'm not a HItmen hater. Full credit to Calgary's powerplay. Some great players on that side, and they took full advantage of an opportunity. I would love to see Michael Stone on Canada's WJC team, or at least get a shot.

-Nick Bell took a Stone slapshot off the ankle in the first period, left the game, and didn't return.

-Here's a couple of thoughts from Head Coach Jesse Wallin after the game. He was obviously upset, but chose to be diplomatic.

"It's disappointing. I thought the turning point in the hockey game was the penalty(s) in the second period. The referee and I obviously had a very different view on that call, and quite frankly I've got quite a bit of confusion as to how that works. I thought it was a tight hockey game to that point and the call I wasn't very happy with was the turning point in the hockey game."

"I didn't think there was any quit in us at all. We lost Nick Bell in the second period, and then Jordie Deagle sticking up for a teammate ended up in the penalty box for quite some time. I didn't think we quit."

"Our approach going into the third was that anything could happen, and I thought we went out and went to it, but at the end of the day it's disappointing when the players don't decide the game."
-----------------------

RD Rebels vs CGY Hitmen

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:05:00 +0000

Gameday Thread:

Rebels vs. Hitmen - 7 p.m. (Enmax Centrium)
-I'll have the pregame show at 6:30 - www.1067thedrive.fm

-Rebels trying to win their fourth game in a row for the first time since February of the 2006-07 season. Trudeau was Prime Minister, Gas was $0.30 a litre, and the Leafs were actually good. I kid...but it's been a while.

-The last time the Rebels defeated CGY was Feb. 8th, 2008. The Rebs are 0-7-1 against the Hitmen since, including 0-2 this year.

Lineup: (unchanged)

Kudrna - Green - Coetzee
Ferguson - Nugent-Hopkins - Cowen
Redmond - Kambeitz - Elson
Mayor - Siwak - Persson

Morin - Weller
Archer - Bell
Witt - J. Deagle

The goaltending matchup will be Kuemper vs Martin Jones

Back to .500 / Monday Reading

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:41:00 +0000

The Red Deer Rebels have clawed their way back to that elusive .500 mark. Entering the weekend at 4-6, Red Deer managed to keep the win streak going, and now sit at 6-6 this season, fourth in the Central Division, and eighth in the conference. Here's the summary from Saturday night, a 3-2 win over the Chilliwack Bruins.

1. R.D Ferguson, (4) (Redmond, Bell), 9:36 (PP)
1. R.D Ferguson, (5) (Green), 19:26

2. R.D Witt, (1) (Coetzee, Kudrna), 7:37
2. CWK Grant, (1) (Sundher, Pauls), 18:23 (PP)

3. CWK Horak, (2) (Manning, Stahl), 4:20

-Brett Ferguson is enjoying the finest stretch of his WHL career, as he scored five points over the weekend, and has already eclipsed last year's goal total.

-With an assist, Willie Coetzee extended his point streak to seven games. He has 17 points (6g 11a) over that span.

-He took about 10 games to get going, but this weekend was the Darcy Kuemper we're used to seeing. Back to back 34-save performances, and three-star selections both nights.

-Red Deer returns to action Tuesday night as they play host to the Calgary Hitmen - 7 p.m. (Enmax Centrium) I'll have the pregame show at 6:30 (http://www.1067thedrive.fm/)

--------------

Some Monday Reading:

Caroline, AB's Kris Russell, a former Medicine Hat Tiger, inked a three-year contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets. I really believe we are very close to see Russell fully breaking out at the NHL level and turning into the point producer he was in Junior.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/article/2009-10-17/jackets-sign-russell-for-3-more-years

-Red Deer's Colton Sceviour is off to a good start to his pro hockey career. The 20 year-old has a goal and four assists in his six-game stint with the Dallas Stars AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars: www.texasstarshockey.com

-Red Deer's Chase Schaeber, in one of his finest games in the WHL, put up three points as the Calgary Hitmen defeated Portland 6-5 Sunday night. http://whl.ca/stats/player.php?id=25033
----

Rebels Win/Coetzee's Points/Another Gameday

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Game thread - Red Deer Rebels vs Chilliwack Bruins - 7:30

-I'll have the pregame show for you at 7. Hoping to get a few words prior to the game with a couple of Red Deer boys, Jeff Einhorn and Mitch Topping.

Topping is in his rookie season with the Bruins, and was their first-round pick in the 2008 Bantam Draft. Meanwhile, Einhorn, a member of the Telus Cup AAA Midget Optimist Rebels back in 2007, has just recently returned to the lineup after suffering a scary preseason injury when he was hit in the throat with a high stick.

-The Bruins are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers, and after a tough start, have really buckled down defensively over the last couple of games. In fact, The Bruins have picked up at least a point in five straight.

-The big gun for the Bruins continues to be Ryan Howse. The Calgary Flames draft pick is a natural goal scorer, and has 8-5-13 in 11 games this season, and is also a team-leading +8, remarkable considering the Bruin's inability to keep the puck out of their net in the early going.

Check back here prior to the game, and I'll have the lineup HERE, although considering the good effort Red Deer had last game, I don't expect any changes.

Edit. No changes. Darcy Kuemper vs Mark Friesen

Kudrna - Green - Coetzee
Ferguson - Nugent Hopkins - Cowen
Redmond (returns to lineup) - Kambeitz - Elson
Mayor - Siwak - Persson

Morin - Weller
Bell - Archer
Witt - J. Deagle

--------
As for the game last night:

Red Deer Rebels 6 Portland Winterhawks 2

-Rookie phenom Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice, as did Andrei Kudrna, while new WHL scoring leader Willie Coetzee (pictured) set up four goals, as the Red Deer Rebels knocked off the Portland Winterhawks 6-2

1. POR Bennett, (5) (Walker), 0:12
1. R.D Nugent-Hopkins, (7) (Kudrna, Coetzee), 7:00 (PP)
1. R.D Kudrna, (5) (Coetzee, Morin), 13:18
1. R.D Cowen, (3) (Ferguson), 19:36

2. R.D Ferguson, (3) (Coetzee, Kuemper), 13:28
2. POR Ross, (6) (Niederreiter, Rutkowski), 17:32 (PP)

3. R.D Kudrna, (6) (Coetzee), 5:31
3. R.D Nugent-Hopkins, (8) (Cowen, Ferguson), 14:41

-It was an inauspicious start for the Rebs, as they had to rebound from a breakdown just 12 seconds in.

-Darcy Kuemper, I thought, played his best game at home this season. At times, it definitely didn't feel like a 6-2 game, and with the score 4-2 late in the second, Portland made a push, and Kuemper, who made 34 saves, was at his best.

-16 year old 4th liner Daulton Siwak is doing some very good things while on the ice, and it's a shame he's still looking for his first WHL point after 19 games. He has a lot of offensive skill, as evidenced by his 15 year-old point totals with the AAA Midget Optimist Rebels last night. Siwak had another strong game last night, and it's only a matter of time before the points come.

-Speaking of points, Josh Cowen (4 pts in 10 games) is only 2 away from his totals of last year. With three goals already, he's been a pleasant surprise.

-17 year-old Connor Redmond made his return to the lineup. He's missed the last 6 games with a shoulder injury.

Back to Blogging

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Sorry! I've been slipping on the blog. About time for an update

Gameday thread:

Red Deer Rebels vs Portland Winterhawks - 7:30 p.m. (Enmax Centrium)

Check back here prior to puck drop for tonight's lineups:

EDIT:

Tonights lineup:

Kudrna - Green - Coetzee
Ferguson - Nugent Hopkins - Cowen
Redmond (returns to lineup) - Kambeitz - Elson
Mayor - Siwak - Persson

Morin - Weller
Bell - Archer
Witt - J. Deagle

Kuemper

You can catch the game online as well at http://www.1067thedrive.fm/ I'll have the pregame show starting at 7.

Some news and notes:

-The Rebels are coming off of that thrilling 5-4 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings last Sunday night. The Winterhawks pulled out a 5-2 victory Thursday up in Edmonton

-Landon Ferraro was in Detroit this week so Red Wings doctors could take a look at his troublesome knee. The second-round Wings draft pick will hopefully be back in the lineup very soon. I'll have some up to the minute info prior to gametime.

-What a start it's been for Willie Coetzee. The 19 year-old forward enters tonights contest with 7 goals and 16 points in 10 games, good for third in league scoring. Some players come back from pro camp and take a while to get going. Willie, on the other hand, used his contract signing as momentum, and has picked up steam.

-Meanwhile, 16 year-old Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has put up 12 points in 10 games, just one behind Kelowna's Shane McColgan for the WHL rookie lead.

-Former Rebel G James Reimer's pocketbook has to be looking a little better this week. Reimer has been up with the Toronto Maple Leafs after they lost both their goaltenders to injury. For now, Joey MacDonald will see most, if not all of the action in net, but Reimer's presence has certainly indicated his status within the organization. His ECHL Playoff MVP performance a year ago was one of the reasons Brian Burke decided to ship Justin Pogge off to Anaheim. By the way Reims, congrats on the engagement!

-Red Deer's Paul Postma notched a goal and two assists Wednesday night for the AHL's Chicago Wolves, his first professional points. You can check out the highlights here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuWZZPnUWow

Postma's goal was a vintage one-timer on the powerplay. We certainly saw a lot of that last year in the WHL.

-Former Rebel Kirill Starkov, one of my favorite kids to ever come through Red Deer, has landed in the Swedish Elite League with Timra IK. So Among his teammates, Oilers first-rounder Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson

-I also noticed the other day, plenty of Red Deer ties on Ilves Tampere in the Finnish Elite League. Sylvan Lake's Dustin Johner is there, as are former Rebels Masi Marjamaki and Mikko Kuukka.

-The forgotten part of the hockey game. Red Deer's Cody Huseby, a grade three teacher at St.Pats school, made his WHL officating debut last weekend at the Centrium. I wrote a story about that here: http://www.reddeerexpress.com/article/20091014/EXP1101/310149984/-1/EXP11/red-deer-teacher-makes-whl-linesman-debut

Enjoy the weekend. Talk to you tonight.

AW

Rebels Lose In Road Trip Opener

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS 4 RED DEER REBELS 1

-It wasn't the start the Red Deer Rebels wanted on their four game in six night Eastern road trip. Former CGY Hitmen youngster Brenden Rowinski potted the hat trick, while former Rebel castoff Spencer Edwards notched his 5th goal of the young season, as the Warriors (3-2) hand the Rebels (2-3) a 4-1 loss.

Here's the summary:

1. M.J Rowinski, (3) (Frazee, Stanton), 10:03 (PP)
1. M.J Rowinski, (4) (Frazee), 15:12 (SH)
1. R.D Cowen, (2) (Elson, Deagle), 15:29 (PP)

2. M.J Rowinski, (5) (Frazee), 7:30

3. M.J Edwards, (5) (Smuk, Paradis), 11:18

-Darcy Kuemper stopped 20 of 24 shots, while MJ got 29 saves from Brandon Glover.

-The newly-aquired Andrej Kudrna made his Rebels debut, finishing pointless with a -1 rating.

-Red Deer continues their road trip with 3 games in 3 nights, starting tomorrow in Brandon.

-Expect Kraymer Barnstable to start at least one of these games, potentially Friday night's contest.

-------------------

Wow. Big dollar signs for former Rebel netminder Cam Ward yesterday. Wardo inks a massive contract extension with the Carolina Hurricanes. Six years - 37 millions dollars.

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/cam-ward-gets-six-year-extension

Well deserved Wardo. He's up there with the best goaltenders in the NHL (perhaps the most underrated) and is now on the same pay scale. But, uhhhh, I think your rec team could use some new gear............hmm?? http://www.reddeerjets.com/?page=11123&id=

-----------------
Some people get down on the NHL sometimes, what with the ownership sagas, the high, over the top contracts, their brutal marketing skills, and it's inability to succeed anywhere outside Canada. But I love it. I live for the NHL, and am so excited for this tonight and the rest of the weekend I can barely stand it.

Literally, ALL I want to do in the winter is sit and watch NHL hockey on TV. Yes, there are bigger things in life....but this weekend, Hockey is number one.

----------------
Some local hockey notes: RDC Queens exhibition tonight vs U of A (RD Arena)

Friday - AAA Midget Optimist Rebels vs Canada's National Womens team - 8 p.m. (RD Arena)
- Tickets 5 dollars at the door.
------------

Mappin Traded to Vancouver

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:59:00 +0000

The Rebels have completed a trade with the Vancouver Giants, acquiring Import forward Andrej Kudrna in exchange for forward Cass Mappin.

Kudrna is in his second year in the Western Hockey League. Last season he had 38 points in 67 games with the Giants. Kudrna is expected to be in the Red Deer line-up Wednesday night in Moose Jaw.

Andrej Kudrna
DOB: Nov. 5, 1991
Hometown: Nove Zamky, SVK
Position: Left Wing
HT: 6’ 2”
WT: 195lbs

Year Team League GP G A PTS PIM
2008-09 Vancouver Giants WHL 67 18 20 38 32

Also announced today, defenceman Jindrich Barak has been released by the Red Deer Rebels.

Sutter - Glencross - Sutter in Edmonton

sports@big105.fm (Walker) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:24:00 +0000

-Rebels getting set to host the Lethbridge Hurricanes this Friday night at the Centrium.

Red Deer is coming off a 7-1 win over the Kootenay Ice, while a young Hurricanes team, (fresh off the Kyle Beach trade to Spokane) is still recovering from a dreadful opening weekend, with losses of 8-1 and 7-3 to Kootenay and Medicine Hat.

It looks like it will be a long, rebuilding season in Lethbridge.
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I hopped up Highway 2 last night to take in Oilers-Flames preseason at Rexall Place. As per usual, ties between Red Deer, (Rebels and otherwise) run deep with the Calgary Flames. Former Rebs who were in camp, but already cut, included Cam Cunning, J.D. Watt, and Carsen Germyn. Of course, Dion Phaneuf is a mainstay in Calgary, while Brent Sutter, the Rebels owner and President, is behind the bench.

Former Rebels captain Brett Sutter, the son of GM Darryl, is still hanging on, and is still in the running for a roster spot. I caught up with Brett and will have a peice with him during one of the intermissions this Friday.

Brent had good things to say about Brett, and about Red Deer native Curtis Glencross, who scored twice in the Flames 5-3 win. Glencross now sits right near the top of the NHL preseason in scoring, and I will never understand why the Edmonton Oilers let him go just over a year ago.

The Oilers will say that while they were pursuing Marian Hossa as a free agent, they had no money to commit to a bottom-sixer like Glencross. Their hands were tied.

HOWEVER....to me...the biggest mistake came earlier in the offseason, when they re-signed Robert Nilsson and Marc-Antoine Pouliot to contracts, before Glencross, in essence committing his money. Both of these guys may not crack the club this year, and Glencross could get 20 goals and 50 points in Calgary.

dumb. dumb. dumb.
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