WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Battle Back for Hard-Earned Victory

January 3, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Cam Hausinger was hoping Liam Hughes didn't watch the game highlights from the Red Deer Rebels' 2-1 shootout win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday.

Hausinger potted the clincher in that contest by swinging wide right and then beating goalie Dylan Msykiw to the far side.

Apparently, Hughes, making his 'Lethbridge Hurricanes debut after being acquired Tuesday from the Seattle Thunderbirds, hadn't viewed the goal because Hausinger used the exact move to pot the winner in a 5-4 WHL shootout victory Wednesday before 3,498 fans at the Centrium.

"'He just came from Seattle, I didn't know if he saw that, so maybe I could throw a little curveball at him" said Hausinger of his thoughts while preparing for his shootout chance.

"I saw it in the NHL once and showed my dad . . . 'this is going to be my new move, this is going to be my go-to'.

"I did it the other night and it worked. You just stick with what works and thank God it went in. I closed my eyes and prayed for the best."

Down 4-2 late in the contest, the situation appeared bleak for the Rebels. But 'Canes defenceman Ty Prefontaine, while trying to ring the puck around the boards, instead put it off Hughes and into the net with 1:55 remaining. The goal was credited to Rebels captain Reese Johnson.

Lethbridge forward Taylor Ross was then assessed a charging minor at 18:49 and with Red Deer netminder Ethan Anders on the bench, the Rebels got a six-on-four power play marker courtesy of Hausinger with a mere 6.6 seconds on the clock.

The rugged forward was on the edge of the crease when Brandon Hagel's shot from the corner glanced off his teammate's leg and past Hughes.

"It wasn't just me that got the goal, it was six guys on the ice that made a good effort," said Hausinger. "There was a lot of good work ethic and puck retrieval at the end."

Hagel scored earlier in the shootout to match the lone Lethbridge marker from Jordy Bellerive.

"We battled. It was certainly far from a mistake-free game, but we didn't' quit, we stayed with it," said Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter. "The kids stayed positive on the bench.

"We just found a way to get the one goal on a break, but you get those, you earn those, and obviously getting the power play at the end and being able to throw the puck at the net and get a screen . . . something good came out of it."

The visitors never trailed and twice led by two goals.

Jake Leschyshyn opened the scoring when he took a centering pass from Nick Henry and threw a nifty move on Anders 3:48 into the contest, and teammate Caden Addison, from the point, beat Anders through a screen midway through the first period.

Jeff de Wit closed the gap to one with his 21st of the season 46 seconds later when his give-and-go attempt to Hagel glanced off a defender and back onto his stick.

Dylan Cozens restored the 'Canes' two-goal cushion early in the second, beating Anders with a rising shot on a three-on-two break. Hagel converted a quick feed from Zak Smith late in the period, but after some early third-period pressure from the Rebels, Lethbridge grabbed another two-goal lead on a wrap-around by Taylor Ross.

Cue the comeback.

"The group stayed resilient. There were mistakes and turnovers through the game, but from the other side of it we didn't quit," said Sutter.

Down 4-2, The Rebels boss called a timeout in the latter half of the second period and his team responded.

"In the first 12 minutes we weren't getting many shots, but after the timeout we seemed to be better," he said. "But you turn pucks over, you're not going to get opportunities to get shots on net.

"The third was probably our best period, not just the last two and a half minutes, but overall. The kids stayed on their toes, stayed sharp and found a way."

Added Hausinger: "It was exciting. We talked a lot in the locker room about being a better team all the time. Having some consistency, not playing well one game and then the next game we're asleep.

"To come back from behind tonight shows a no-quit attitude. It was nice to get everyone into it and come out with the two points."

Anders made 28 saves for the win, while Hughes stopped 26 shots.

The Rebels are in Calgary Friday for another Central Division clash with the Hitmen, then host the Victoria Royals 24 hours later.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2019


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