REBELS: Big Weekend Ahead

With the spectacle that was the Subway Super Series now in the books, the focus for junior hockey fans in Central Alberta returns squarely on the exploits of the Red Deer Rebels.

The Rebels are coming off of what was perhaps their best home effort of the season thus far, definitely their best since their return from November’s ArgiTrade induced road trip.  My question for Lukas Sutter on Thursday, what was the key to success that night?

Rebels Score Four, Lose Third Straight

In their final game before a heading out on a seven game road trip, the Red Deer Rebels debuted a pair of new faces in their lineup.  Forward Matt Bellerive, who was brought in from the Vancouver Giants, and Brandon Underwood, who was acquired from the Regina Pats.



Rebels fans came into the game looking for a hot start from their club to match the hot summer-like weather outside, and that’s exactly what they would get.  Devan Fafard floated a wrist shot in from the point, Marc McCoy got a piece of the puck, pushing it toward the goal line.  It was a close play, the referee initially waved it off setting the stage for a lengthy video review.  The Rebels got the call, and the goal.  1-0 2:38 into the first period on McCoy’s first goal of the season, assisted by Fafard.



Not long after, the Rebels would go up 2-0 courtesy of Charles Inglis.  He got a piece Joel Hamilton’s sizzling wrist shot from high in the slot to beat Tigers goalie Dawson McCauley at the 4:05 mark.

The home side didn’t stop there, making it 3-0 just 57 seconds later.  Tyson Ness cashed in on his first of the season with Adam Kambeitz earning the lone assist.  Three goals on six shots for the Rebels was enough for the Tigers to replace McCauley with Marek Langhamer between the pipes.



The Tigers would get one goal back before the end of the period.  While shorthanded, Hunter Shinkaruk made a strong play toward the Rebels net.  The net came off of its supports but not before Dylan Bredo put the puck past Rebels goalie Patrik Bartosak for his first goal of the season at 16:20.  Spencer Jensen also earned an assist on the goal.  3-1 Rebels after the first period.  Shots on goal were even at 15 apiece.



Medicine Hat took the game over in the first half of the second period, thanks in large part to penalty trouble on the part of the Rebels.  With Adam Kambeitz in the penalty box for tripping, Trevor Cox tipped home his first of the season.  Kyle Becker and Tyler Lewington with the assists.  3-2 Rebels 3:32 into the middle frame.



Then with Stephen Hak banished for cross checking, Miles Koules with pull the Tigers even, firing home his own rebound short side past Bartosak.  6:27 into the second period, the Rebels three goal lead was gone.  Game tied 3-3.  That would be the score through 40 minutes.  Tigers outshoot the Rebels 16-11 in the second period.



Much of the same in the third period... another Rebels penalty, another Tigers powerplay goal.  Trevor Cox found the back of the net for his second ppg of the night, Boston Leier and Kyle Becker with the assists.  Medicine Hat takes the lead for the first time in this game, 4-3 at the 8:42 mark.



But the Tigers lead was short lived thanks in part, ironically, to a penalty of their own.  Chad Labelle was sent off for delay of game.  Charles Inglis would take advantage by firing home his second goal of the night.  It was also the Rebels second powerplay goal of the game.  Hamilton and Conner Bleackley with the assists at the 11:05 mark of the period.



Life on even terms would not last long for the Rebels.  Jayden Hart would score the Tigers’ first even strength goal of the night at 15:27 with a scorching wrist shot past Bartosak.  Cox earned an assist for his third point of the game.  Ty Stanton also assisted on the Tigers go-ahead goal.


The Rebels would come with a late push, with their net empty, in the final minute.  However, they were unable to score the equalizer.  Medicine Hat pulls out a 5-4 victory.



MOLSON CUP THREE STARS

1. Trevor Cox MH

2.  Joel Hamilton RD

3.  Charles Inglis RD



Next Game... The Rebels visit the Calgary Hitmen for a game Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.  Game time is 7pm.  Cam Moon has the Worley Parsons Cord pregame show on 106.7 The Drive starting at 6:50pm.

WHL Central Division Preview

Here are the team previews for the WHL Central Division as compiled and released by the Western Hockey League...

Calgary Hitmen

General Manager: Kelly Kisio

Head Coach: Mike Williamson

2012 pre-season: 4-2-0-0

2011-12 Record: 44-25-2-1, 91pts (2nd in Central Div., 3rd in Eastern Conf.) GF: 273  GA: 221

2011-12 Power Play / Penalty Killing ranking: PP: 20.9% (12th); PK: 81.0% (4th)

2012 Playoffs: Lost in five games to Brandon in first round

2011-12 Top Scorers:

Jimmy Bubnick  72gp-36g-41a-77pts

Cody Sylvester  66gp-23g-45a-68pts

Victor Rask       64gp-33g-30a-63pts

Taming the Tabbies, "Fightgate" Update

A feather in the cap last night for Deven Dubyk.

In his final appearance in the rink where he spent his first three WHL seasons, Dubyk made 28 saves to backstop the Red Deer Rebels to a 4-2 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers.

By all accounts, it was a solid team effort. A perfect way for the Rebels to say "thank you" to the guy who gave them so much in so little time.

Dubyk made a very difficult decision when he joined the Rebels in late December... passing up a chance to play in the RBC Cup with the host Humboldt Broncos. The Rebels are thankful he made the decision that he did.

His overall solid play kept the injury-riddled Rebels in countless games over the past three months. Obviously, the Rebels did not win nearly as many of those games as they would have liked. But Dubyk at least gave them a chance more often than not. As I mentioned in a previous blog... his numbers don't jump right out at you (3.05 GAA, .905 save %) but if you think the Rebels season was bad enough already... not having Dubyk between the pipes would have made it look much worse.

Back to last night's game... Alex Petrovic started his farewell week by scoring a pair of goals, his 11th and 12th of the season. As Director of Player Personnel for the Florida Panthers Brian Skrudland told me last month, Petrovic is a lock to play for their AHL affiliate in San Antonio next season. So let's enjoy his final few games with the Rebels because his presence will definitely be missed next year.

Tyson Ness scored his 20th goal of the season last night. Ness has taken full advantage of the extra ice time he's received this year. He will be a valuable leader for the Rebels as a 19-year-old next season.

Just two games left for the Rebels, both of them at home, Friday versus Lethbridge and Saturday versus Edmonton.

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Meantime... Edmonton Oil Kings Head Coach Derek Laxdal is softening on his stance, somewhat.

You'll recall that he accused the Rebels of using some dirty tactics during last Saturday's game at Rexall Place... setting the stage for what could be an explosive game this Saturday at the Enmax Centrium.

But in another article featured in today's Edmonton Journal, Laxdal wasn't so sure that will be the case...

Saturday’s game against Red Deer could be a rough one. The teams combined for 156 penalty minutes at Rexall Place on Saturday and Laxdal was vocal after the game, repeatedly saying that the Rebels — who were eliminated from the playoffs —were unprofessional in how they conducted themselves.

Laxdal now brushes off the suggestion that the Rebels’ final game of the season Saturday could get out of hand.

“It’s the game of hockey,” he said. “The game gets physical and we’ve got to play through it. We’ve got to focus on getting those two points and focus on the way we play.

“We want to play a physical hard game. If it gets out of control a little bit, that’s the referee’s job to settle it down. It’ll be fine.”

We shall all find out together on Saturday.

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