The Red Deer Rebels goaltending tandem of Kyle Kelsey and Rhett Stoesser showed experience is in the eye of the beholder in October.
Red Deer’s netminding duo was best in show across the WHL for the month of October, earning the nod as WHL Goaltenders of the Month.
The pair, who both made their WHL debuts in October, combined to allow just 22 goals as the Rebels won 13 games to start the season, a modern-day WHL record.
Kelsey, a Maple Ridge, B.C. product, posted a 1.87 goals-against average and .936 save percentage over his eight appearances in September and October, including a 26-save shutout of the Lethbridge Hurricanes Oct. 8.
The 18-year-old allowed two or fewer goals in seven of his eight outings.
Stoesser, from Carstairs, leads the WHL with a 1.40 goals-against average while posting a .934 save percentage over his five starts.
The 17-year-old earned two shutouts in October, blanking the Prince Albert Raiders with a 23-save effort Oct. 22 and the Vancouver Giants with an 18-save performance Oct. 28.
Kelsey was originally selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the fifth round of the 2019 WHL Draft and was acquired by the Red Deer Rebels in May of 2022.
Stoesser was originally signed by Red Deer in September.