(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

regular season looms

Rebels close preseason with loss to Hitmen

Sep 15, 2019 | 6:39 PM

It wasn’t the most spectacular preseason for the Red Deer Rebels, who closed out exhibition play on Sunday afternoon with a 6-2 loss in Calgary.

The Rebels finish the preseason with a 1-3-1-0 record, and having scored just 12 times in five games versus 21 goals against.

The hometown Hitmen got on the board first, Evan Toth with the tally just 1:14 in.

Just 91 seconds later, Red Deer tied as Canada Winter Games alum Jayden Grubbe scored his first goal in Rebels red. Fellow Team Alberta member Kyle Masters assisted.

Before the period hit the midway mark, Jonas Peterek and Riley Fiddle-Schultz put Calgary up 3-1. That lead was extended with 2:55 left in the first as Adam Kydd made it 4-1.

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In the second period, Fiddler-Schultz notched his second of the game to make it 5-1 Hitmen.

Jace Isley drew the Rebels closer with his first at 8:09, but Josh Prokop put it away 42 seconds later with a shorthanded marker.

Red Deer goaltender Byron Fancy allowed five goals on 13 shots, and expected regular season starter Ethan Anders came in to stop 16 of 17 in 34:15 of playing time. At the other end, Jack McNaughton stopped 10 of 12 and Ethan Hein stopped all two shots he faced in relief.

Calgary outshot Red Deer 30-14. Both teams went scoreless on the man advantage.

Red Deer begin their regular season with a home and home series against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sept. 21 at the Centrium (7 p.m.), and then the next afternoon at Rogers Place (4 p.m.). Both games can be heard starting a half hour before puck drop on 106.7 The Drive.