(Dave Brunner)

By Kael Clark

WIN-TER WONDERLAND

Rebels bag 3-1 victory over Swift Current on toque and teddy toss night

Dec 15, 2019 | 10:41 AM

The Red Deer Rebels gave fans an early Christmas present on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Central Division rival Swift Current, their fifth win in the last seven games.

Cam Hausinger, who had the game-winner, spoke post-game about overcoming challenges.

“It was a lot of distractions coming into this one. There’s a lot of break time we are looking forward too,” he admitted. “I thought our team played well, we had some hiccups and slow moments, but came out in the third period when it counted and ended up getting the win.”

Just before the two minute mark, teddy bears, toques, mitts, and socks flooded the ice thanks to a gorgeous short-side snipe from Zak Smith above Isaac Poulter’s shoulder. Red Deer outshot the Broncos 14-8 in the frame.

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In the second, Swift Current equalized early, scoring 1:26 in on their first of four powerplays, Tyler Smithies tucking it in past Byron Fancy. The goal was only called good after a video review.

In the third, Red Deer’s forecheck proved successful with Hausinger blasting a one-timer home before the four-minute mark, restoring the lead for good.

Late in regulation, Josh Tarzwell entered the zone, dropped the puck to Ethan Sakowich who let a shot go that Tarzwell eventually crashed home to make it 3-1. For the Red Deer native, it was his 14th tally of the season.

“It was a huge goal. It was a nice play by Tarzwell, he stayed strong on the puck and did a good job protecting it through the neutral zone, then made the play,” said Head Coach Brent Sutter. “He got the shot and the rebound. It was a great play.”

Sutter gives his entire team credit headed into the holiday break.

“It was a game you had to stay with it and not break. It was a tight game and not a lot of room,” he added. “It was a game you had to make sure you kept your mistakes to a minimum and I thought we did a great job in the third period.”

The Rebels are now riding a two-game win streak, and in his seventh straight start, Byron Fancy made 19 saves on 20 shots. Isaac Poulter stopped 29 of 32 at the other end. Red Deer was 0/4 on the man advantage, while the Broncos went 1/4.

While the WHL continues play for a few more days ahead of Christmas, Red Deer is off for two weeks and find themselves just four points back of Brandon for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Wheat Kings play once more in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Red Deer is back at it December 27 when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings.