With their first Central Division title under wraps for the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Red Deer Rebels have guaranteed themselves home-ice advantage in the upcoming Western Hockey League playoffs.
And with just six games remaining in the regular season, Red Deer is on the home stretch before their first postseason game at home.
If the playoffs started today they’d be playing the Medicine Hat Tigers but the bottom of the Eastern Conference is so tight even a game or two could change seeding drastically.
The Regina Pats, Medicine Hat Tigers, Swift Current Broncos, Calgary Hitmen, and the Brandon Wheat Kings are all in the mix to potentially land a spot in the postseason.
This weekend the Rebels play the Calgary Hitmen twice, once at home on Friday and at the Saddledome on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
So far Red Deer has dominated the season series with five straight victories over their Central Division rival. However, most recently Calgary got the better of Red Deer beating them 4-2 on Jan. 22.
Forward Riley Fiddler Schultz has led the way offensively posting 62 points (27 goals and 35 assists) and Oliver Tulk is close behind with 52 points (21 goals and 31 assists).
In net, the Hitmen have a near 50/50 split between Ethan Buenaventura and Brayden Peters. Peters has started five more games than his goaltending partner posting a 2.91 GAA and a .906 save percentage.
In recent news with the Rebels, goaltender Chase Coward has returned to Red Deer after a lengthy absence due to health reasons. If he remains healthy this could give the Rebels a boost heading into the postseason after Rhett Stoesser suffered a season-ending surgery earlier this year.
Defenceman Christoffer Sedoff has returned to the lineup after serving a four-game suspension for a hit to the head. He also recently signed a three-year entry-level contract with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
Forward Kalan Lind was also upgraded to day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He previously was listed according to the WHL injury report, as week to week after an injury against the Winnipeg Ice on Jan. 28.