Rebels: Sutter Makes His Biggest Move Yet

If you thought the winds of chance had already reached gale force levels with the Red Deer Rebels this season... today's events turned things up a couple more notches.

Gone are Jesse Wallin and Charles Inglis.  In comes Jeff Truitt.

The reaction since the news came down at lunch time today has been both large and varied.  I'm not much of a gambler, but I'd be quite confident in wagering that today's events set a new Twitter record for use of the #Rebelshockey hashtag.

Here the "coles notes" version of how the Rebels coaching situation has played itself out...

Rebels - Special Teams... Special Indeed

'The killers' have definitely been 'Mr. Brightside' for the Red Deer Rebels.

Despite their penchant for taking some inopportune penalties, the Rebels penalty killing unit has been nothing short of superb in recent games.

Heading into tonight's game at the Enmax Centrium versus the Regina Pats, the Rebels have killed off 66 of their 79 shorthanded situations.  A success rate of 83.5% (one tenth of a percentage point behind fourth place Kelowna.).  Even more more impressive is the fact that the Rebels are 29/30 on the PK over their past 7 games (thanks to Mooner for pointing that out to me).  The team's record over those games... 4-2-1-0, 9 points out a possible 14.

Rebels Crowned By Oil Kings, Generals and Admirals Win, Big Night for RDC... and more!

Another missed opportunity for the Rebels.

They got some much appreciated help from the Lethbridge Hurricanes as they beat the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-2.

Unfortunately, they couldn't help themselves by beating the Edmonton Oil Kings... losing 3-2 last night at Rexall Place.

As a result, the Rebels remain two points back of the Wheaties while having played two less games.

You can't fault them for a lack of effort, the Rebels brought plenty of it. But it wasn't quite enough on this particular night.

Obvious bright spot... Charles Inglis continued with his red hot play of late, scoring both Rebels goals. He now has 14 on the season, 6 with the Rebels, and 4 in his last two games. He has clearly regained the form that made him attractive to the Rebels when they gave up Daulton Siwak to bring him in.

Obvious low point... the continuation of tragic ongoing storyline for the season... injuries. The Rebels will be minus the services of Aaron Borejko, again. The 20-year-old defenceman was hit from behind by Kristians Pelss in the dying minutes of last night's game (in fairness, Borejko did put him into an awkward position when the hit took place). Borejko suffered a cut to his face which required stitches. He will not play tonight versus the Hitmen and it remains to be seen just how long he will be out of the lineup for.

Yes, the Rebels return to the Enmax Centrium tonight to take on the hottest team in the entire WHL. Not so long ago, the Rebels and Hitmen were fairly close together in the standings. That was until the Hitmen went on an absolute tear... they have won 8 of their last 10 games. You'd be hard pressed to find many L's in their last 20 games. Although, Calgary did lose 2-1 to the Kootenay Ice last night in Cranbrook.

Game time tonight is at 7:30pm. But I have a feeling more than the usual amount of fans will be ready when the doors open at 6:30. Tonight is the night that the Rebels are wearing their new 'one night only' jerseys in support of KidSport. READ HERE for the full details. It's sure to be a great event.

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With the Rebels out on the road, I ventured out to Bentley to take in Chinook Hockey League playoff action between the Generals and Stony Plain Eagles. Those who know me are well aware of how much I love Senior AAA hockey, that will happen when you get to cover four Allan Cup tournaments in four different provinces.

The Generals were 6-1 victors over the Eagles last night. Bentley has a number of former Rebels in their lineup again this season... including Diarmuid Kelly ('01 Memorial Cup champion), Scott Doucet, and the one and only Pete Vandermeer who now plays alongside brother Joe in Bentley.

Former Swift Current Broncos goalie Travis Yonkman made 17 saves for the win. (GAME SUMMARY). The Generals and Eagles play game two of their best-of-three semifinal series tonight in Stony Plain. Game time is 7:30.

The other CHL semifinal series has the Sylvan Lake Admirals taking on the regular season champion, and 2012 Allan Cup host, Lloydminster Border Kings. Lloyd won the series opener 7-3 this past Wednesday.

But the Admirals, thanks to an outstanding 36-save performance by former Grande Prairie Storm goalie Jordan Ramstead, were 3-0 winners on home ice last night.

The third and final game of that series goes tomorrow at 5pm in Lloydminster.

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The Red Deer Optimist Rebels were 4-1 winners last night over the Calgary Royals in their final game before the Alberta Midget Hockey League All-Star Game. The ASG goes tomorrow afternoon at 1:30pm at the Bill Hunter Arena in Edmonton... and the baby rebels will be well represented... http://www.amhl.ab.ca/

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It was a great night for RDC Athletics...

- Queens Hockey 2, Mount Royal 1
The Queens finish off their home-and-home sweep of the first place Cougars to pull within one point of the final playoff spot

- Kings Volleyball defeated Augustans three sets to two
- Queens Volleyball swept Augustana three sets to none
- Kings Basketball 81, MRU 71
- Queens Basketball 59, MRU 59 - the lone blemish on the night for RDC

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CONGRATS to Sylvan Lake resident Lyndon Rush... he and Jesse Lumsden won GOLD in two-man bobsled in World Cup competition in Whistler! (READ STORY HERE!)

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Great to see that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins finally returns to the Oilers lineup tonight. Sounds like he was pretty excited to see his former Rebels teammates last night in Edmonton... and I have no doubt the feeling was mutual. (How good would he look in Rebels silks right about now? lol)

Rebels (Finally) Beat The Tigers!

It was a recipe for disaster.

The Rebels were heading into a road game versus a team they hadn't beaten all season (hardly at all over the past couple of seasons) with just four of their regular defencemen in the lineup. Not gonna lie... I was bracing for the worst.

But those four d-man (Petrovic, Borejko, Thiel, Hak) along with the two call up's (Haydn Fleury, Kevin Pochuk) played admirably in a 6-3 Rebels win over the Medicine Hat Tigers.

They weren't perfect... but they were very, very effective.

GAME SUMMARY

"Hak and Thiel in particular really gave us a lot" coach Jesse Wallin said post-game, "they did a good job of moving the puck, did a real good job of defending. Hakker was out there against Etem and Shinkaruk a lot and did a great job of shutting them down, not giving them a lot."

(Etem still did find a way to score all three Tigers goals. He leads the entire CHL with 47 this season.)

Fleury and Pochuk also held their own in what was a tough spot for the two youngsters.

"They weren't out there a lot, but they did get a fairly regular shift" noted Wallin, "I though they looked comfortable, too. They kept it simple. It was a high-paced game which was an adjustment for them at times. They certainly certainly didn't hurt us and they did a good job of defending."

Once again, the Rebels prospects did an admirable job of stepping up when called upon (ala Feser, Bleackley, Bricker).

No doubt Deven Dubyk was a happy man following last night's game. The 20-year-old netminder earned his first ever win over his former club (while still wearing those gaudy orange pads) making 24 saves in the process.

Tyson Ness, who has been extremely solid for the Rebels of late, scored the first two goals of the game for the Rebels. Charles Inglis scored their next two as he continues to heat up. Turner Elson netted his team leading 19th and John Persson scored the empty netter (actually, he was tripped up while heading in on the empty net and was awarded a goal) to seal the deal.

Once again, the Rebels climb within two points of the Wheaties for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WHL Eastern Conference.

Once again, the Rebels will be challenged to play well in back-to-back games. It certainly won't be easy as they visit the conference leading Edmonton Oil Kings on Friday.

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OTHER NOTES...

- The Rebels finish January with a 6-5-1-1 record

- Forward Brooks Maxwell was back in the Rebels lineup after missing a few games with an upper body ailment

- Mathew Dumba will suit up for Team Cherry in tonight's CHL NHL Top Prospects Game in Kelowna. Last night, he took part in the hardest shot event at the skills competition... clocking in at 91.8 mph.

- Courtesy of @WHLFacts on Twitter... Turner Elson had 14 points in January, the highest total in any single month of his WHL career

Charles In Charge

The Red Deer Rebels were going to beat the Vancouver Giants. No discussion necessary... the Rebels were going to win. Plain and simple.

Why? Because Charles Inglis said so.

The 19-year-old forward played his best game as a Rebel in leading Red Deer to a 4-2 victory Wednesday night at the Enmax Centrium.

The second period, in particular, was a treat to watch as Inglis torched the Giants for a goal and two assists... and he could have had more. His physical play at both ends of the rink was too much for Vancouver to handle. And his chemistry playing on a line with Tyson Ness and Colten Mayor was quite evident. His 11th goal of the season, and second as a Rebel, invoked memories of Mark Messier coming in on his off-wing and leaning into a sizzling wrist shot. Young Payton Lee had no chance at making the save.

The came could be said for Conner Bleackley's first ever WHL goal. The Rebels' first selection in the 2011 Bantam Draft let loose with a scorching wrister of his own in the second period to join the likes of Alex Petrovic and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins as players who have scored their first goal while still a 15-year-old. Exciting things await when it comes to this skilled young forward. As Jesse Wallin noted post-game "You put him out there and he looks like he belongs."

The Rebels also received some much appreciated help on the out of town scoreboard when Calgary blasted Brandon 7-2. Red Deer now trails Brandon by four points for the final playoff spot in the east. The Rebels still hold three games at hand.

Next up for the Rebels... a visit from the Tri City Americans Friday night.

OTHER NOTES...

- Mathew Dumba continues to play his best hockey of the season. With two more assists against the Giants, the draft eligible defenceman has 7 points in his last 4 games. He also had a picture perfect hip check early in the third period which brought the crowd to its feet. Unfortunately, it also brought Dumba a minor penalty for tripping.

- With a goal and an assist versus the Giants, Colten Mayor ties Turner Elson for second place in team scoring for the Rebels with 35 points. Elson has 16 goals, Mayor has 14.

- Deven Dubyk was not spectacular, but he was solid in making 29 saves to improve to 8-7-1-1 this season.

- Rebels scratches were Devan Fafard (upper body), Brooks Maxwell (upper), Justin Weller (wrist), Marc Mackenzie (upper) and Patrik Bartosak. Mackenzie looks favourable to return to the Rebels lineup next week.

- 15-year-old goalie Payton Lee suffered his first loss of the season for the Giants in his third game. Jackson Whistle came in for the third period and did not allow a goal against (making one spectacular diving save on Mayor in the final minutes). Starting goaltender Adam Morrison remains out, listed as 'day to day'

- Brendan Gallagher and David Musil both returned to the Giants lineup from their stints on the injured list

Rebels Maul Cougars

Rebels - 5
Cougars - 1
[WHL game summary - http://www.whl.ca/schedule/show/game/59900]

It was good... but it can be better. It needs to be better.

The Red Deer Rebels played well in their 5-1 win last night at the Enmax Centrium over the Prince George Cougars. It was certainly much, much better than what we all saw in their 5-1 loss to Calgary last Tuesday. Safe to say the "extended conditioning work" at practice this week paid immediate dividends.

As good as last night's performance was, it was fairly solid overall, the Rebels need to take their game up another notch as they head into today's game versus the Hitmen [4pm in Calgary, Cam Moon has the broadcast on 106.7 The Drive starting at 3:50].

The Cougars came into last night's game as a beaten and worn down group. They lost Friday night in Calgary 5-1 and were minus the services of six regulars versus the Rebels [a tune tragically familiar for Rebels fans].

Despite this, PG actually controlled the play through much of the first period. They did not score on their opening powerplay but looked dangerous throughout. The Cougars also looked poised to score on their second powerplay of the period until Turner Elson and Mathew Dumba found themselves on a rare shorthanded 2-on-0. They worked it to perfection as Dumba would tap home his 13th goal of the season for a 1-0 Rebels lead. Had the Cougars converted on their powerplay instead of the Rebels scoring shorthanded, this game may have been much different.

There also wasn't much to give between the two teams in the second period until Dumba set up Elson for a powerplay goal late in the frame. The Rebels took a 2-0 lead in to the final period where they would score three more times to seal the deal.

It was a decent effort overall by the Rebels. One that was good enough to beat the ninth place team in the Western Conference [FYI the Rebels 45 points would have them in 5th place in that conference] but whether it would have been good enough to beat a hot team like Calgary is up for debate. The Hitmen come into this afternoon's game winners of 9 of their last 10 games. That includes, of course, their way too easy win in Red Deer just a few days ago.

Back-to-back wins. An absolute necessity for the Rebels as they continue their desperate playoff chase but also something they still have not accomplished since November. A win today puts the Rebels just two points behind Brandon [who lost 7-3 last night to Kootenay] for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Red Deer will have two games at hand after today.

Other Notes...

- Deven Dubyk was oh so close to notching the shutout last night. The Cougars lone goal came early in the third period when Cody Carlson's point shot bounced off of a Rebels player [Colten Mayor we think] and into the net. Otherwise, it was a solid 32 save performance for the 20-year-old netminder.

- This was the first meeting between the Rebels and Cougars since the December 29th Daulton Siwak / Charles Inglis trade. Neither player factored into the scoring last night. There was quite a large contingent of Siwak supporters in the building which I know meant a lot to the 18-year-old Olds, Alberta native.

- Turner Elson was an easy choice as the games first star with two goals and two assists. Dumba was the second star with a goal and two assists. Adam Kambeitz, who chipped in with a goal of his own, was named by Mike Moller as the game's third star.

- 2011 1st rd bantam draft pick Conner Bleackley played in his 4th game with the Rebels last night. With the Rebels wearing their third jerseys last night, Bleackley wore #21 as opposed to #9 which he wore in his previous three appearances. Devan Fafard and Brooks Maxwell were the Rebels' healthy scratches.

- The Rebels could use some help from their divisional rivals this week. Brandon visits Kootenay on Tuesday, Calgary on Wednesday, and Edmonton on Friday before coming to Red Deer to play the Rebels next Saturday [which is 80's night at the Centrium!].

- The Rebels will be donning a special 'one night only' jersey when they host Calgary on February 4th. The team is joining forces with Finning to raise money for Kidsport. More details to come when they are available.