(Photo: Dennis Berg)

By Troy Gillard

busy hockey weekend!

Rustlers excited for weekend showdown versus Generals

Nov 28, 2019 | 12:02 PM

The Red Deer Rustlers are excited to step into a bigger spotlight this weekend.

The local Senior AA squad is bringing its act from Penhold to the Servus Arena as they take on the Lacombe Generals during Rogers Hometown Hockey celebrations.

“We’ve been treated fantastically where we’ve been playing, (but) obviously you can’t say no to a stage where you’re potentially going to get double your fans in a rink on the spot where the junior Rustlers used to play,” says Rustlers captain and team president Mike Dempster.

The fact that they are taking on a new local rival from Lacombe makes things even more exciting, Dempster admits.

“With them starting their new identity as a Senior AA team, they’re very excited. When we talked to their staff they were in right away. We also play them Friday night, so back-to-back nights in a home and home series means there should be some excitement.”

Prevention, Access, Recovery, and Coordination

Safe Harbour officially hands over shelter keys, establishes accessible navigation hub

16h ago

lacombe and sylvan lake

December 2025 (un)employment data released for Alberta sub-regions

18h ago

21 years with WCPS

Darcy Blum appointed principal of Lacombe Outreach School

19h ago

The Rustlers carry a 5-3 record into the game while the Generals are 2-5.

The Rustlers are also using the game to raise support for the Tubs and Toys campaign for the Red Deer Christmas Bureau. Doors open Saturday night at 8 p.m.

The Red Deer Optimist Chiefs will also be part of this weekend’s festivities as Red Deer hosts Alberta Midget Hockey League Showcase. Teams from across the Midget AAA league will be in town for games at the Servus Arena and the Kinex Arena. The Optimist Chiefs kick things off by hosting the Leduc Oil Kings Friday night at 8 p.m.

“All the best 15, 16, 17 year old hockey players in the province are going to be in town,” says Al Sim, President of Red Deer Minor Hockey.

Female hockey in Red Deer is also being celebrated in a big way this weekend as more than 500 people are expected to attend a gala Saturday night at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre at RDC. The day-long celebration also features an afternoon game between the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs and Edmonton Pandas at 3:15 p.m.

Sim says there’s another fun event planned for during Sunday’s national TV broadcast of the Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens game, hosted live from Red Deer by Ron MacLean and Tara Slone.

“We’ll have 50 to 60 minor hockey teams, pond hockey and other groups are going to parade into the (TV) studio area on Sunday, so it’s going to be good.”

The Stanley Cup will be in Red Deer during on Saturday (1:30-4 p.m.) for fans to check out. NHL alumni coming for the festivities include Shane Doan, Glenn Anderson and Red Deer native Glen Wesley. Melody Davidson, head coach of Canada’s gold medal winning women’s teams at the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010, will also be here.

More on this weekend’s Rogers Hometown Hockey events – happening at the Gary W. Harris Celebration Plaza in downtown Red Deer – can be found here.