WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Close out East Division Jaunt with Impressive Win over Raiders

November 13, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Red Deer Rebels left wing Arshdeep Bains vs. the Prince Albert Raiders
Red Deer Rebels left wing Arshdeep Bains vs. the Prince Albert Raiders
(Red Deer Rebels)

PRINCE ALBERT - The Red Deer Rebels didn't necessarily save their best performance for last, but it was pretty darn impressive nonetheless.

The Rebels put the wraps on a six-game Western Hockey League road trip with a well-deserved 4-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders Friday before 2,381 fans at the Art Hauser Centre.

"The first half of the game their energy was really good, they were moving the puck into the right areas and they were sharp," said Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk, whose troops led 2-1 after 20 minutes and outscored their hosts 2-1 in the middle frame prior to a scoreless third period.

"When the play was to be made, they did it, but when it wasn't they were pushing the pace, putting pucks where they needed to and generating good speed."

The Rebels carried the play throughout the first period but were victimized first when Hayden Pakkala ripped a quick shot past Rebels netminder Chase Coward 6:41 into the contest.

Defenceman Blake Gustafson replied for Red Deer five minutes later, moving down into the low slot and firing a corner feed from Arshdeep Bains past goaltender Carter Serhyenko.

Ben King followed with his 11th goal of the season - and league-leading ninth on the power play - with five minutes remaining in the opening period, connecting from the left circle off a pass from Kai Uchacz.

Second-year defenceman Jace Weir provided the visitors with a two-goal cushion with a point shot through a crowd six minutes into the second period, and King notched his 12th of the season off a great rink-wide feed from Jhett Larson just over two minutes later.

The Raiders cut the deficit in half when Nolan Allan beat Coward to the glove side in the final minute of the period, giving the hosts at least a measure of momentum heading into the final 20 minutes.

"When they scored the late goal all of a sudden you knew they were going to push in the third," said Konowalchuk.

But the Rebels limited the Raiders to nine shots over the final 20 minutes, none of which found the back of the net.

"It was gut check time and the guys played really hard and played for each other, blocking shots and doing whatever was needed," said the Rebels bench boss.

Including a 3-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen Oct. 31, the Rebels are 5-2-0-0 since their last home game.

"The guys proved that whether they're at home or on the road they can play the same way," said Konowalchuk.

The Rebels headed home after the contest and will be back on the ice Monday to prepare for a Friday contest against the visiting Hitmen.

"We'll take a little breather and then get back to work," said Konowalchuk.

Notable: Coward, in his third straight start, made 18 saves while posting his seventh win of the season. Serhyenko stopped 13 of 16 shots for the Raiders before being replaced by Tikhon Chaika, who stopped 10 of 11 . . . The Rebels were one-for-three on the power play while the Raiders were zero-for-five . . . The three stars: (1) King, (2) Larson, who recorded two assists, and (3) Pakkala.

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Images from this story

Red Deer Rebels left wing Arshdeep Bains vs. the Prince Albert Raiders
Red Deer Rebels left wing Arshdeep Bains vs. the Prince Albert Raiders
   



Western Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2021


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