Rebels 5 Rockets 1
It’s been a long time since the Kelowna Rockets were last at the Peavey Mart Centrium.
In fact, it’s been over four years since the two teams squared up on Nov. 16, 2018.
Fast forward 1,562 days later and the Rebels took care of business with a 5-1 victory at home.
The Rebels played physical and aggressive which was just what the doctor ordered for the Rebels to get back on track.
“We got back to our identity tonight,” said captain Jayden Grubbe. “Everyone bought in so that’s a big piece of it when you can roll everyone and everyone’s playing how we should.”
“I think it was big for us. We’re fighting with Saskatoon and we’ve got them coming up. Just getting back to our game and coming toward the end of the season it’s good to get some momentum going.”
Head coach Steve Konowalchuk said his team came to play.
“They were dialed in and focused pretty much the entire game. Good to have a little bit of fun at the end of the game and play some other guys too,” he said.
“It’s so important that everybody is ready… When you have everyone going like that it’s a fun game.”
Rebels Ollie Josephson opened the scoring in the first period firing in a backhander in front of the net just under three minutes in.
Konowalchuk added Josephson had a great game on Saturday and is a reliable player at just 16 years old.
“You can put him out in whatever situations and I know he wants to score more so it’s good to see him score… He’s eventually going to be a really good scorer in this league but right now for the minutes he gives us it’s so valuable.”
Defenceman Jace Weir hammered in his second goal of the season at the midway point of the period off the pass from Matteo Fabrizi.
With six minutes left in the opening frame, Ben King sniped a shot in the top corner on the powerplay to extend their lead to 3-0.
Early in the second period Jace Isley was left alone in front of the net and snapped it into the back of the net to take a 4-0 lead.
Thirty seconds later the Rockets got on the board notched by Turner McMillen to narrow the deficit.
Less than a minute into the third period, defenceman Mats Lindgren scored on the powerplay to add to the Rebels lead 5-1 for the lone goal of the frame.
Goaltender Kyle Kelsey continued on from his fantastic performance on Friday night against Winnipeg. On Saturday night Kelsey made multiple highlight reel-type stops and secured an impressive 29 saves against Kelowna.
Red Deer also clinched a spot in the 2023 Western Hockey League playoffs.
“You never take anything for granted in the sports business,” Konowalchuk said.
“To start the year that’s your first goal to make the playoffs. As the year goes on you obviously have different goals but that’s your first goal.
“We’ve accomplished that… For us now it’s to keep playing how we played tonight. Really playoff style, everything matters type hockey to make sure we’re going as good as we can come playoff time.”
