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Red Deer Rebels win season opener in Edmonton

Rebels spoil Oil Kings championship night
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Red Deer Rebels forward Jace Isley tries to dig a puck loose from Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Sebastian Cossa during the WHL Eastern Conference semifinal last season. (Photo by Advocate Staff)

Just four months removed after being eliminated by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Western Hockey League playoffs, the Red Deer Rebels got their revenge Friday night.

The Rebels spoiled the Oil Kings championship banner-raising night with a 5-2 blowout at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Defenceman Hunter Mayo had a three point night scoring two goals and an assist and goaltender Kyle Kelsey in his first WHL regular season game came up big with 28 saves.

In the first period the Oil Kings scored first on a powerplay goal by Cole Miller but just four minutes later the Rebels answered with a goal by forward Jhett Larson also on the powerplay.

Just four minutes into the middle frame Mayo would score his first of the game off the feed from defenceman Tanner Brown who had two assists in the contest.

Carter Anderson scored with less than four minutes left in the second period followed by Mayo’s second of the game 20 seconds later.

The Oil Kings scored early in the third period but the Rebels would hold on as Larson fired in his second of the game on the empty net.

The Rebels were 50 per cent on the powerplay and were three-for-four on the penalty kill. It was a shot parade by both teams as Red Deer had 36 to Edmonton’s 30.

The Rebels will play the Oil Kings again Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium at 7 p.m.



Ian Gustafson

About the Author: Ian Gustafson

Ian began his journalism career as a reporter in Prince Albert, Sask. for the last three years, and was born and raised in Saskatchewan.
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