WHL Red Deer Rebels

Rebels Host Hitmen Tuesday

March 14, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


The Red Deer Rebels hope to build off of one of their most impressive WHL wins when they host the Calgary Hitmen Tuesday.

The Rebels suffered a one-sided setback Friday night in Lethbridge, then responded nicely to trim the visiting Hurricanes 6-1 to close out the home-and-home set 24 hours later at the Centrium.

"it was a real good effort by us, especially after getting beat pretty bad in Lethbridge," Rebels captain Luke Philp said Monday. "It was a really good bounce-back game and I thought we showed a lot of character, especially after killing all of those (five) penalties in the first period.

"It was a really good game for us."

Next up are the Hitmen, whose regular-season fate was determined Sunday when they blew a 3-1 lead and fell 4-3 to the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. The result deleted any chances the Hitmen entertained of catching the Rebels for second place in the Central Division.

Red Deer, meanwhile, still maintains a puncher's chance of catching the 'Canes for top spot in the division. Even if the Rebels run the table with a win Tuesday and back-to-back defeats of the Edmonton Oil Kings Thursday and Sunday to close out the regular season, they will need help from the Medicine Hat Tigers.

The Oil Kings did the Rebels a favour Sunday by nipping the 'Canes 4-3 at Lethbridge. The Hurricanes are currently three points clear of second-place Red Deer and close out their regular-season schedule with a home-and-home versus The Tigers, needing to win both to seal the deal if indeed the Rebels go 3-0 this week.

If the current standings hold, the Rebels will face the Hitmen in the opening playoff round - with Games 1 and 2 set for March 25-26 at the Centrium- lending extra credence to Tuesday's match.

"There's a good chance we could play Calgary, but we still have hopes for first place, too," said Philp. "It's a big game tomorrow and we're going to treat it that way."

While the Rebels' power play has fallen off in recent weeks and is now 11th-best in the league at 21.9 per cent, their penalty kill has been somewhat better. Red Deer is 19th overall with a success rate of 77 per cent and the penalty killing units were lights out Saturday with a seven-for-seven showing against the high-powered 'Canes.

"We've changed up a few things (with the penalty kill) and we've been working hard at it," said Philp. "We've been getting better in that area of the game and we want to keep working at being consistent with it."

Veteran forward Conner Bleackley suggested the Hurricanes - winners of the first five face-to-face meetings - hadn't seen the 'real' Rebels in action until Saturday.

Philp agreed that the Rebels, with their skill level, depth and experience, should be capable of turning in more gems this week and then during the post-season.

"They're not always going to be pretty, as in 6-1, but when we play the right style with a good work ethic we can be successful. I think that's what we've been striving for lately," he noted.

"That was a good effort and we're going to try and continue with that."

Injury update: Josh Mahura has been cleared for practice. The 17-year-old defenceman got the green light from his doctor Monday after months of recuperation from extensive knee surgery he underwent shortly after being injured in late September. "He has been cleared for practice and there is no timetable for his return," said Sutter. The St. Albert native has been skating on his own for three weeks . . . Meanwhile, goalie Rylan Toth remains out with a high ankle sprain. The good news? He might be ready to go for Game 1 of the post-season. The bad news? He's still not skating . . . Forwards Evan Polei and Taden Rattie are listed as day-to-day, although Sutter expects Polei to miss at least the next two games.

Check out the Red Deer Rebels Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2016


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.

OurSports Central