Hitmen Win 5-2 over Rebels
December 13, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
A battle for first place in the WHL Eastern Conference took place at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer Sunday. It had been more than two months since the Rebels and Calgary Hitmen split a home and home series. The Hitmen, having made numerous moves to improve their club, iced a vastly different lineup versus the Rebels in this one.
FIRST PERIOD
Calgary wasted no time in opening the scoring in this one. Jakob Stukel raced in alone after the Rebels lost the puck at the Hitmen blue line and deked out Rylan Toth to net his 17th goal of the year. Just like that, Calgary led 1-0 just 31 seconds into the game.
Following the early Calgary goal, the Rebels dominated the rest of the opening frame and broke through for the game tying goal with 7 seconds remaining. Adam Musil, while falling to the ice, went top shelp on Hitmen goalie Cody Porter for his 10th goal of the year. Colton Bobyk and Presten Kopeck assisted on the 1-1 Rebels goal.
SECOND PERIOD
Red Deer handed Calgary a 5 on 3 powerplay early in the middle frame and the Hitmen took advantage. Stukel banged home his own rebound for his second goal of the game to put Calgary ahead 2-1 2:29 into period two.
Despite more constant pressure in the Hitmen zone, it took a while for the Rebel to draw even again. They did so with 2:29 to go in the period while on a powerplay. Presten Kopeck blasted a one-timer past Cody Porter for his 5th goal of the year. Lane Pederson and Bobyk set up the 2-2 Rebels goal.
Just 11 seconds later, Jake Bean intercepted a pass in the Rebels zone and walked in to beat Toth for his 13th goal of the year to send Calgary to the second intermission with a 3-2 lead.
THIRD PERIOD
Calgary took a two goal lead 4:11 into the third period when Keegan Kanzig blasted home his 5th goal of the year, a powerplay marker, making it 4-2 for the Hitmen.
Stukel would complete his hat trick with an empty net goal with 23 seconds remaining to cap off a 5-2 Hitmen victory.
BOOSTER JUICE THREE STARS
1. Cody Porter CGY
2. Jaob Stukel CGY
3. Adam Musil RD
HARDEST WORKING REBEL - Presten Kopeck
NOTES - Both Calgary (Fazleev, Travis Sanheim) and Red Deer (Fleury, Spacek) were missing two players away at World Junior selection camps... other Rebels scratches for the game were Josh Mahura, Kayle Doetzel... attendance for the game was 5272
NEXT GAME - The Rebels head to Cranbrook Tuesday night to take on the Kootenay Ice. Game time is at 7 p.m. Cam Moon has the broadcast on 106.7 The Drive starting at 6:50.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2015
- Oil Kings Can't Snap Skid with 5-4 Loss to Tigers - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hitmen Win 5-2 over Rebels - Red Deer Rebels
- Royals Topped by Giants - Victoria Royals
- Porter Leads Hitmen to 5-2 Win over Rebels - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants Double Royals 4-2 - Vancouver Giants
- "We Didn't Care How It Got Done." - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Succumb to Saskatoon in Shootout - Regina Pats
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 13 at Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Bajkov Leads Silvertips over Seattle 4-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Blazers Win 5-2 in Prince Albert - Kamloops Blazers
- Rockets Fall to Brandon 5-1 - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Trump Giants - Victoria Royals
- Tigers Win on Teddy Bear Night - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game 31: December 13 vs. Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Fans Send 6,384 Teddy Bears Flying on Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Ground Rockets - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Silvertips Skate Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Americans Outlast Chiefs 4-3 - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Down Giants 6-1 - Vancouver Giants
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