WHL Red Deer Rebels

This Week in History, April 19-25, 2001 - Rebels Memorial Cup Run

Published on April 20, 2020 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release


Broncos 4 Rebels 3 (OT)

The Rebels opened their best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference final against the Swift Current Broncos on a negative note, falling 4-3 in overtime in front of 6,489 fans at the Centrium.

Red Deer's Colby Armstrong scored the series' opening-goal at 19:25 of the first period and the Rebels went up 2-0 when Joel Stepp connected 6:15 into the second period.

But the visitors rallied with three consecutive goals off the sticks of Duncan Milroy (power play, 8:42 of the second period), Tim Smith (3:02 of the third) and Layne Ulmer, who scored at 6:31 of the third.

Justin Mapletoft forced overtime with a goal just over five minutes later - his 10th of the playoffs - and Milroy potted his second of the game - and the winner - at 12:45 of the extra period.

BJ Boxma was splendid in the Broncos net, making 30 saves. Shane Bendera turned aside 17 shots for the Rebels.

April 21

Rebels 3 Broncos 2

The Rebels rolled to a 3-0 lead before hanging on for a 3-2 victory in Game 2 of the series.

A Centrium crowd of 6,295 roared in approval as Kyle Wanvig opened the scoring with a power play goal 6:59 into the contest.

Martin Erat, with a short-handed tally just nine minutes later - his 11th goal of the post-season - and Jeff Smith, at 5:42 of the second period, gave the Rebels a seemingly comfortable three-goal cushion.

The Broncos, however, replied with Clay Thoring's goal at 8:48 of the middle frame and Tim Smith made it a one-goal game 26 seconds into the third period.

That's as close as Swift Current would get, though, as Bendera made 28 saves and Boxma blocked 27 shots.

April 24

Broncos 3 Rebels 2 (OT)

The conference final shifted to Swift Current for Games 3 and 4 and the Broncos regained the series lead with a 3-2 overtime conquest.

The Rebels got the game's opening goal from Mapletoft (pictured below), a power play marker near the midway point of the first period, but Ulmer made it a 1-1 contest six minutes later.

Erat notched a short-handed goal for the second game in succession at 6:59 of the second period, but the hosts got a tying tally from Nathan Smith with just over four minutes remaining in regulation time.

Tim Smith ended it 16:07 into overtime, leading one Broncos fan - overheard by a Red Deer Advocate writer - to predict "Broncos in five." Turned out to be a bad call.

Boxma was the Broncos' best player in Game 3 - witnessed by 2,305 fans - with a 40-save performance. Bendera made 31 saves for the visitors.

April 25

Rebels 2 Broncos 1

Wanvig scored the decisive goal at 13:17 of the third period as the visiting Rebels pulled out a 2-1 victory in Game 4, witnessed by an audience of 2,501.

Rebels forward Colby Armstrong potted the game's first goal at 5:01 of the second period before Ulmer pulled the Broncos even just under five minutes later.

Bendera made 19 saves as the Rebels pulled into a 2-2 series deadlock. Boxma stopped 22 shots in a losing effort.

Check out the Red Deer Rebels Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2020


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