Brock Virtue and his supporting cast have revved up their engines recently as they attempt to join the World Curling Tour’s elite and also prepare for the upcoming Alberta provincial playdowns and their ultimate goal — a berth in the 2012 Brier.
The Rebels dominated the Everett Silvertips through the first two periods Friday, then watched as the visitors potted a pair of unanswered third-period goals and eventually pulled out a 3-2 Western Hockey League shootout win before a gathering of 4,768 at the Centrium.
The Notre Dame Cougars, with Keiran Pruden back at the controls, earned themselves a home playoff date Friday.
The Red Deer Rebels, for the third consecutive outing, were outshot and outplayed and — presto — wriggled off the hook and posted a 2-1 Western Hockey League shootout win over the Portland Winterhawks Saturday before a gathering of 4,864 at the Centrium.
Muhammad Ali would have been proud. The Red Deer Rebels staged their own version of the rope-a-dope Wednesday at the Centrium. The Rebels bent, but in the end didn’t break and posted a 4-2 Western Hockey League win over the Kamloops Blazers before a recorded crowd of 4,231.
Ultimately, there was no more room on the Red Deer Rebels roster for Lucas Grayson.