Rebels 5 Ice 1
The Red Deer Rebels picked up a crucial victory in Cranbrook Friday night with a dominant 4-1 win over the Kootenay Ice.
With just five games remaining in the WHL regular season, the Rebels lead the Calgary Hitmen by just four points for third place in the Central Division.
The Hitmen beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 Friday to keep pace with Red Deer.
Red Deer looked road weary in the first period, getting out shot 12-5 by the Ice and relying heavily on goalie Lasse Petersen. Kootenay jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening frame.
From there the Rebels scored four unanswered goals in the second to sink the Ice.
Evan Polei scored his career high 30th goal of the year to start things off at 3:32 of the period.
Brandon Hagel notched his first of two goals on the night at 12:56, his second came at 17:21 on one-timer on the power play.
The Morinville native now has seven goals against the Ice this year and 24 on the season.
He was named first star on the night.
Micheal Spacek also continued to roll for the Rebels scoring his 28th of the season on a wrap around at 15:48 of the middle frame. Spacek has nine points in the Rebels last five games.
The Winnipeg Jets draft pick finished the game with a goal and two assists and was named second star.
Petersen was solid in the Rebels net with 32 saves for the win.
The two teams will complete the home-and-home with a game at the Centrium Saturday night with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
byron.hackett@www.reddeeradvocate.com