Rebels Mistakes Magnified in Lopsided Loss to Tigers
October 13, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
MEDICINE HAT - The growing pains continue for the rebuilding Red Deer Rebels.
Saturday night's lessons were particularly painful as the Rebels absorbed a 9-1 WHL thumping courtesy of the Medicine Hat Tigers before 2,912 fans at the Canalta Centre.
"We knew all along that there would be a lot of work we'd have to do with this group," Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter said of his young team.
The club's fresh-faced defence was exposed by the speedy Tigers, who notched three goals in each period.
"Our young 'D' struggled tonight. They have a quick team and I didn't think we handled things very well on the rush and in our zone," said Sutter.
"We knew going into the season that was going to happen sometimes with our young defence. We knew there would be some tough games until they learn certain things they have to understand, like gaps, not pinching in the neutral zone and taking the right angles on guys."
The Tigers needed a mere 33 seconds to get on the board as Daniel Baker notched his first of two goals in the opening period, his point shot beating Rebels netminder Ethan Anders through a crowd.
Josh Tarzwell answered for the Rebels with his fifth of the season just over a minute later, converting a behind-the-net feed from Jayden Grubbe.
But Baker scored the eventual winner shortly after, a near carbon-copy of his first marker, and Caleb Willms potted his first of two on the night before the period expired, beating Anders with a quick release from the left circle.
The Rebels started to carry the play in the middle frame and had momentum on their side and an opportunity to draw closer on the power play. But James Hamblin buried a short-handed, two-on-one pass from Tyler Preziuso and it was all downhill from there for the home side.
"I thought we did some really good things tonight," said Sutter, who didn't identify any positives in Friday's 5-0 home-ice loss to Portland. "Our work ethic was a lot better tonight and our emotion and intensity level were a lot better."
The Rebels boss liked his team's play in the early stages of the second period.
"We're down 3-1 and actually playing pretty well, we're doing all right. Then we give up a short-handed goal on a two-on-one."
Ryan Chyzowski followed with a power-play goal and Cole Sillinger connected on a two-on-one with Brett Kemp before the period was over, and the eventual outcome was no longer in doubt.
Sillinger buried his own rebound on Rebels goalie Byron Fancy early in the final frame, Nick McCarry scored with the Tigers on a five-on-three power play and Willms rounded out the onslaught in the final minute.
"It was one of those nights when it seemed like every mistake we made, that we can't make, ended up in our net," said Sutter.
For the second straight night, Sutter replaced Anders with Fancy after two periods.
"Andy didn't have one of his stellar nights," said Sutter. "Byron gave up one tough goal but then he hasn't played that much this year."
Anders turned aside 23 of the 29 shots he faced. Fancy stopped 11 of 14 shots.
Tigers netminder Mads Sogaard made 19 saves.
The Rebels were zero-for-one on the power play and the Tigers were two-for-five.
The Rebels are idle until next weekend when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings and Regina Pats Friday and Saturday.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2019
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- Winterhawks Earn a Point to Jump to First Place - Portland Winterhawks
- Tips Acquire C Cole Fonstad from Prince Albert for Reece Vitelli, Draft Selections - Everett Silvertips
- Raiders Acquire Vitelli from Silvertips - Prince Albert Raiders
- Americans Stop Cougars' Winning Streak - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview: Pats Return to Action Sunday at Home to Lethbridge - Regina Pats
- Goncalves Lifts Silvertips in OT - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Edge Broncos 6-5 in a Shootout - Winnipeg Ice
- A Clutch Night for Souch Who Buries First WHL Hat Trick in Win over Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Catch Momentum, Defeat Cougars 4-2 - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: October 13 - Portland Winterhawks
- Blades Harvest Two Points on Nutrien Country Harvest Night - Saskatoon Blades
- Pink in the Rink Night a Success as Tigers Defeat Rebels 9-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos See Big Lead Evaporate in Loss to ICE - Swift Current Broncos
- Blazers smoke out Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- Rebels Mistakes Magnified in Lopsided Loss to Tigers - Red Deer Rebels
- Chiefs' Offense Breaks Through in 6-1 Win over Victoria - Spokane Chiefs
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