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WHL Red Deer Rebels

Hagel and Linemates Dominating WHL Opponents in Timely Fashion

March 15, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


According to Wikpedia, HRM can stand for numerous titles, from heart rhythm meditation to human resource management.

Then there's the Red Deer Rebels' version of HRM, the Brandon Hagel-Kristian Reichel-Mason McCarty forward line that's been terrorizing opposing Western Hockey League teams in recent weeks.

The trio have accounted for the majority of the Rebels' goals during their red-hot stretch and have been a major part of the club's successful drive to a post-season berth.

"It's exciting. It's always good to have production coming out of your line but it's also good to have the success we're having as a team," Hagel said Thursday.

"That's the biggest part. Our success as a line is obviously helping and I hope we can carry it into playoffs."

Hagel didn't enjoy a productive first two months of the season, but his game started to come around in January when he returned from a six-week layoff due to an upper body injury.

He gradually picked up steam to the point where he's been held pointless in just two of the last nine games. The Morinville product has scored seven goals and added eight assists during that stretch.

"This is my best hockey. It's the most important part of the year so I'm glad I'm playing this hockey right now," said Hagel. "The injury was tough, the first one I've experienced in my entire career. Just battling back from it and having the success I am right now is awesome for me and it's good that it's helping out the team."

Naturally, a good portion of the credit for Hagel's return to being a star player has to go to his linemates as the threesome have thrived in unison.

"The first thing is we're good buddies, which helps a lot," said Hagel, who has improved his season totals to 18 goals and 58 points in 55 contests after posting numbers of 31-40-78 in 65 games during the 2016-17 campaign.

"But yeah, we're kind of finding each other. Me and Reichs have played together all year and it's finally coming together playing with Carts, who's a smart hockey player. He can hop in with anybody and be a good player.

"Us three together are obviously clicking right now and hopefully it keeps working."

Hagel's improved play and production could very well earn him a contract with the Buffalo Sabres, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL entry draft.

"They (Sabres) are definitely keeping in contact," said the 174-pound forward, who stands a shade under six-foot-one. "My agent kind of deals with that stuff.

"We have two games left (a home-and-away series with the Kootenay Ice Friday and Saturday) and it has to be my best hockey, and in playoffs I have to continue to playing my best hockey or things aren't going to go my way.

"I know that so I'm just going to keep playing the way I am and try to be the best player on the ice every night."

As the Rebels head into their final weekend of regular season action, the team's overall mood is entirely different than was the case, say, two months ago, when the post-season was a mere pipe dream.

"Big time. Everyone's excited, everyone's happy and everyone is close as a team," said Hagel, who will celebrate his 20th birthday in August. "This winning success has brought everyone closer as a team.

"When you're losing you're not talking much on the bus, not talking much in the dressing room. But when you're winning everyone is happy and jumping around. It's awesome to see and I think that has a lot to do with our success."

Scouting Report

Rebels vs. Kootenay Ice, 7 p.m. Friday, Centrium

Kootenay was once 12 points up on the Rebels for third place in the Central Division but have hit the skids over the past two months and were officially eliminated from the playoff race when Red Deer defeated Medicine Hat 5-2 last Saturday. It's the third straight year the Ice will be on the outside looking in after the team qualified for the playoffs for 17 consecutive seasons . . . Kootenay, owning a 25-32-5-2 record, is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss Wednesday in Calgary and hasn't won in 11 games (0-7-2-2) . . . RW Alec Baer (28g,30a) and C Colton Kroeker (14-44) are Kootenay's leading point producers, both with 58. RW Brett Davis (25-30-55), rookie LW Peyton Krebs (16-36-52), RW Colton Veloso (24-20-44) and former Rebels RW Cam Hausinger (19-22-41) are next on the list . . . Duncan McGovern is 15th among WHL goalies with a 3.22 goals-against average in 34 games. Teammate Matt Berlin has appeared in 36 outings and is 23rd in the league with a GAA of 3.52. Their respective save percentages are .890 and .886 . . . Davis was selected by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round of last year's NHL entry draft.

Injuries: Kootenay - C Cole Muir (lower body, one week). Red Deer - D Alexander Alexeyev (upper body, week-to-week).

Special teams: Kootenay - Power play 17.5 per cent, 21st overall; penalty kill 78.5 per cent, eighth. Red Deer - Power play 19.1 per cent, 18th overall; penalty kill 78.5 per cent, seventh.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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