Rebels 5 Hurricanes 1
The Red Deer Rebels finished the Western Hockey League season on a high note.
On Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium, the Rebels beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-1 to conclude the regular season.
Head coach Steve Konowalchuk said the energy and effort from his team were where it needs to be this time of the year.
“As the game winds down we were able to get a lot of guys ice time. It’s fun when you keep everybody involved and it’s nice now to be able to say we can get ready for playoffs,” he said.
“The last seven to 10 games we were getting pretty excited for playoffs. It was hard at least for me and I think some of the players not to look ahead but I think they did a great job.
“Really proud of the guy’s regular season and now it’s playoff hockey. That’s what it’s all about.”
After a scoreless opening period, the Rebels scored four unanswered goals kickstarted by Talon Brigley who ripped a wrist shot just over the shoulder of the goaltender while shorthanded.
Konowalchuk explained Brigley has been a reliable player all season and in the last 10 games, he said the Sylvan Lake native is playing more confidently.
“It’s good to see him get a goal here and a goal the other night. Playoff hockey, it takes everybody and that’s what’s exciting.
“Everybody here watches playoff hockey at all levels and your big guys need to be your big guys but there’s going to be certain players that come up and make big plays and be heroes. Maybe he’s one of them.”
At the midway point of the period defenceman Christoffer Sedoff, who returned after missing a couple of games, fired a shot into the back of the net off a beautiful cross-ice pass from Kalan Lind.
Hunter Mayo picked the top corner while on a two-on-one offensive rush with plenty of speed.
Late in the second period, the Rebels went up 4-0 when Frantisek Formanek went bar down after he made a toe drag move passed the Hurricanes defender.
Early in the third period the Hurricanes finally got on the board despite only having 11 shots on goal at the time. The goal-ended goaltender Kyle Kelsey’s shutout streak he’s held the last two games he appeared in.
Shortly after Lind notched his 16th goal of the year when he redirected a pass in from Kai Uchacz for the game’s final tally.
Speaking to the media after the game Brigley said he’s getting more comfortable.
“Getting a little bit more confidence on the penalty kill too. Getting a lot more ice time with that and I think it’s just all gelling together with five-on-five. I just think confidence is the biggest thing,” he said.
“I think we wanted a big bounce back after yesterday not having a couple of guys in the lineup. We really wanted to focus on our start tonight and I think we did that… It’s a good way to end the regular season going into the playoffs.”
The team also named its award winners for the regular season.
Forward Kai Uchacz had a remarkable season winning four different awards including the Three Star Award, Humanitarian Award, Leading Scorer, and MVP.
The Rebels Most Underrated Player was presented to Jace Isley and the Players Award to Jayden Grubbe. Defenceman of the Year was awarded to Christoffer Sedoff and Rookie of the Year to Ollie Josephson. Meanwhile, the Telus Scholastic Player of the Year was awarded to rookie Carson Birnie.
Next up for the Rebels, they’ll host Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday against the Calgary Hitmen in the opening round of the WHL Playoffs.
