The Red Deer Rebels dominated the ice in a thrilling game against the Calgary Hitmen, securing a 5-2 victory with a strong second period performance.
The Rebels came out strong in the first period, with forward Ben King scoring the first goal of the game just over five minutes in. The Hitmen quickly responded with a goal from forward Riley Stotts, tying the game at 1-1.
But it was the second period where the Rebels really shone, scoring three unanswered goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Forward Jaxsen Wiebe, defenseman Kyle Masters, and forward Arshdeep Bains all found the back of the net, much to the delight of the home crowd.
The Hitmen tried to mount a comeback in the third period, with forward Sean Tschigerl scoring a goal to bring them within two. However, the Rebels’ defense held strong, and forward Josh Tarzwell sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game.
Rebels goaltender Byron Fancy had a strong performance, making 27 saves and earning the first star of the game. Hitmen goaltender Brayden Peters also had a solid game, making 31 saves.
The Rebels’ win extends their current winning streak to four games, while the Hitmen have now lost three in a row.
With this victory, the Rebels improve their record to 8-4-1-0, while the Hitmen fall to 6-6-1-0.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday in Calgary, where the Hitmen will be looking for redemption and the Rebels will aim to continue their winning streak.
