Skip to content

Red Deer Rebels drop 12th straight game

Progress is being made, says head coach David Struch
250122-rda-rebels-weekend-recap
Rebels defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk carries the puck during a game against the Prince Albert Raiders. (Photo by Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

Despite the Red Deer Rebels dropping their 12th straight game, head coach David Struch says the team's play is trending in the right direction.

Red Deer was bested 4-3 in overtime by the Blades in Saskatoon on Friday, Jan. 17 and then dropped a 3-1 decision to the Raiders in Prince Albert the following night. While the Rebels' season-high losing skid continued, head coach David Struch said these games featured "some steps in the right direction" for his club.

The game against Prince Albert was Red Deer's "best game of the new year, without a question," Struch said in a post-game video posted to the Rebels' Twitter page.

"This was the hardest we've played without the puck. We were doing things the right way. We created a lot of opportunities offensively. You can see things coming together."

Struch said he liked what he saw on special teams.

"We did things the right way on the penalty kill. They've got a good power play, but we did some really good things. Our power play we created some offence — we missed on some really good chances," Struch said.

"Positive energy and competitive energy, it's huge. I think it's good for our team to feel that. We can't be satisfied with a loss, but (the players) can feel good about how they played."

Red Deer is currently ninth in the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference with a 15-22-4-2 record.

The Rebels lineup features several new faces following the Western Hockey League Trade Deadline on Thursday, Jan. 9. Some of these new Rebels stepped up for the team against the Blades on Friday night.

Coupland scored his first as a Rebel and 10th of the season about two minutes into the game. Rebels defenceman Doogan Pederson, who was also acquired by the team around the trade deadline, picked up his first Rebels assist on the goal.

Saskatoon tied the game a couple minutes later, but Calhoon scored his first as a Rebel 16:25 into the first — he shorthanded tally was his fifth of the year. Calhoon then scored again three minutes into the middle frame.

Saskatoon went on to score a pair early in the third period to tie the game at three, before recording the game-winner about a minute into overtime.

Rebels goaltender Chase Wutzke stopped 30 of 34 shots, while Blades goaltender Evan Gardner stopped 17 of 20.

Rebels forward Beckett Hamilton scored Red Deer's only goal in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to the Raiders. Nishaan Parmar assisted on the power play tally, which was his first point in a Rebels uniform.

Wutzke stopped 16 of 19 shots, while Raiders goaltender Max Hildebrand stopped 32 of 33.

The Rebels will visit Lethbridge for a matchup against the Hurricanes on Friday, Jan. 24. Red Deer will then return home to host the Moose Jaw Warriors at the Peavey Mart Centrium on Saturday, Jan. 25 — puck drop is 7 p.m.

There will be one more game for the Rebels this weekend: a road matchup against the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday, Jan. 26.



Sean McIntosh

About the Author: Sean McIntosh

Sean joined the Red Deer Advocate team in the summer of 2017. Originally from Ontario, he worked in a small town of 2,000 in Saskatchewan for seven months before coming to Central Alberta.
Read more