Hounds 5 Rebels 3
LEVIS, Que. — Red Deer Optimist Rebels head coach Doug Quinn has said all along that his team is tough to beat when they play five-on-five.
It’s when they get into a special teams battle that hurts them.
Such was the case in their opening game of the Telus Cup midget AAA Canadian hockey championships Monday morning.
The Notre Dame Hounds of Wilcox, Sask., scored twice with the man advantage and held Red Deer scoreless in seven chances in recording a 5-3 victory.
“We were a little rusty after the two-week layoff and it showed, especially on our power play,” said Rebels head coach Doug Quinn.
Their inefficiency on the power play was especially tough to take midway through the second period when they enjoyed a two-man advantage for two minutes while holding a 2-1 lead.
“That was the turning point in the game,” said Quinn. “We just weren’t sharp. We got caught standing around and didn’t create anything.”
On the other hand the Hounds, who have a roster made up of players from across Canada, took advantage of their five-on-three situation in the first period to get back in the game.
The Rebels jumped into a 2-0 lead on goals by Nate Engert at 15:53 and Justin Faux at 16:46.
However, Yannick Laflamme of Thetford Mines, Que., beat Rebels netminder Mac Engel with eight seconds remaining in the opening stanza while enjoying a two-man advantage.
Scott Bolland of Osoyoos, B.C. evened the count in the second period and Slater Koekkoek of Mountain, Ont., gave Notre Dame the lead at 7:06 of the third period, just five seconds after a Red Deer penalty expired.
Faux pulled the Rebels even again 38 seconds later, but James Melindy of Gould, Nfld., scored a power play marker at 13:01 for what proved to be the winning marker.
“That was a tough goal to take as he took the puck in the neutral zone and we all stood around and watch him go through the team and score,” said Quinn.
Stefan Matteau of Blainville, Que., scored into an empty net to put the game away for the Hounds, who finished with 44 shots on Engel. The Rebels had 42 shots on Riley Parker of Abbotsford, B.C.
“We needed to do a better job on special teams, but they’re a very skilled team and they took advantage of what we gave them,” added Quinn. “But we also can be a lot better. We were a bit tentative early and not reacting to the puck.”
The Rebels were also a bit nervous as they made their tournament debut. “That could have been some of it,” said Quinn.
The Rebels return to action today at 11 a.m. (EDT) against the Mississauga, Ont., Reps. They face the host Levis Commandeurs Wednesday at 7:45 p.m., the Quebec champion College Antoine-Girouard Gaulois Thursday at 11 a.m. and the St. John’s, Nfld., Fog Devils at 4 p.m. Friday.
The top four teams advance to Saturday’s semifinals, with the final Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on TSN.
In other action Monday, the Gaulois and Fog Devils battled to a 3-3 tie and the Commandeurs downed Mississauga 4-1.