The first star was the Kootenay Ice fans and they got their money’s worth.
In the final game in Cranbrook for the Ice, the Rebels and Kootenay skated to a track meet on the final day of the WHL regular season.
Tied 4-4 early in the third period, Ice rookie Michael Milne brought the 2,684 fans at Western Financial Place to their feet after he buried a great feed from Jaeger White.
Red Deer pulled the goalie late in the game but could not find the equalizer and Kootenay earned a 5-4 to close out play in Cranbrook.
🎥 ICE Captain Peyton Krebs talks about his time in Cranbrook and the connect with his billets. pic.twitter.com/lloLjvvLFn
— Kootenay ICE (@WHLKootenayICE) March 18, 2019
The Rebels fell behind 1-0 on White’s first goal of the night but bounced back late in the frame.
Two former Ice players hit the scoresheet only 2:26 apart in the first period, first Cam Hausinger found the mark and Brett Davis gave the Rebels the lead.
Hausinger buried his second of the night against his former club on the power play just 19 seconds in the middle frame.
The Rebels were sitting pretty up 3-1, but in just under two minutes the Ice came storming back.
Nolan Orzeck got the home side within a goal before Holden Kodak tied the game 55 seconds later. Connor McClennon notched his 14th of the year to push Kootenay ahead.
Thank you, @WHLKootenayICE fans, for joining us on a fun-filled ride over the past 21 years. pic.twitter.com/ArI7g1k6ox
— The WHL (@TheWHL) March 18, 2019
Late in the second, in his first WHL game of the season, Jordan Borysiuk scored his first career WHL goal to tie the game at four.
Milne’s goal came with 5:44 left in the third.
Byron Fancy made 26 saves in the Rebels net and Curtis Meger stopped 25 for the Ice.
After clinching a playoff spot Friday night, the Rebels rested Ethan Anders, Jeff de Wit, Reese Johnson, Josh Tarzwell, Dawson Barteaux and Brandon Hagel Sunday against Kootenay.
The Rebels will face the Prince Albert Raiders in the first round of the WHL Playoffs, with Game 1 set for Friday, March 22 in Prince Albert. Game 3 is March 26 in Red Deer and Game 4 goes March 27 also at the Centrium.