Skip to content

Fierce battle leaves Rebels down two games

Two close, but tough losses have the Red Deer Rebels in a hole early in the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Final.
160423_wheats-rebels-9_CC-for-web
Brandon Wheat Kings' Jayce Hawryluk is slammed to the boards by Red Deer Rebels' Kayle Doetzel during the first period of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final

Wheat Kings 6 Rebels 4

Two close, but tough losses have the Red Deer Rebels in a hole early in the Western Hockey League Eastern Conference Final.

On Saturday, the Brandon Wheat Kings and Rebels lit up the red lights for 10 goals. But when it was over, the Wheat Kings had emerged with a 6-4 win.

Two nights of home cooking for the Wheat Kings and they have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It was almost the same script as Friday night,” said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. “We’re up 4-3 with eight minutes to go in the game and we have to lock it down. We gave up a goal on the next shift and then a couple of shifts after that we give up another goal. We’re not getting it done when we get the lead.

“We have to have everyone playing well though. In this series we haven’t had the full load yet. That’s been the frustrating part because there are individuals who need to play better. Our team game has struggled at times because some individuals haven’t played to the level they need to play at.”

Four goals in four minutes swung the game back-and-forth, as the Rebels and Wheat Kings exchanged leads throughout the third period.

Nearing the end of a Rebels PP, mayhem in front of the net didn’t lead to a goal, but a pass from Adam Musil to Colton Bobyk and then a blast from Bobyk was what it took to tie the game up at 3-3. Less than a minute later a flurry of chances by the Rebels led to another Haydn Fleury wrist shot from the point that found the back of the net. The goal put the Rebels up 4-3.

The frenetic energy continued when Tyler Coulter scored on a scramble for the puck in front of Rebels’ goalie Rylan Toth. His goal tied the game back up at 4-4.

The Wheat Kings got on top for good as Nolan Patrick got his second goal of the night with a little more than five minutes to go in the third to put the Wheat Kings back on top 5-4. John Quenneville added an empty net goal to seal the game.

“They’re a good team,” said Sutter. “That being said there were some shots that needed to be stopped too. There were opportunities they can’t be given. There were breakdowns in our system play and some mental lapses and that hurt us.

Penalty trouble hurt the Rebels early as Nelson Nogier and Akash Bains took penalties 10 seconds apart, giving the Wheat Kings a lengthy 5-on-3 power play. It took about a minute for the Wheat Kings to strike with Tim McGauley scoring on the two-man advantage.

“That’s the kind of stuff we can’t have happen,” said Sutter.

Luke Philp led the Rebels with a goal and two assists while Adam Helewka was held goalless, but pitched in with two assists.

Patrick paved the way for the Wheat Kings with two goals and two assists and Jayce Hawryluk had four assists.

“We have to come out and take care of business and win Game 3,” said Sutter.

The series now switches to Red Deer as the Rebels host the Wheat Kings for two games on home ice. Game 3 at the Centrium starts at 7 p.m.

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com