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road trip

Goalies share shutout as Rebels drop Spokane in 1-0 shootout

Feb 4, 2023 | 10:49 PM

In their first matchup since 2020, and the first meeting in Spokane since February 2019, the Red Deer Rebels beat the U.S. Division’s Chiefs by a final score of 1-0 in the shootout.

On paper, a win for Red Deer should’ve been inevitable.

Coming in, the Rebels were 33-10-1-3, first in the Central division with 70 points, a staggering 48 better than the 22 Spokane had coming in at 9-33-2-2.

But credit to Spokane who hung in there with the Rebels until the bitter end.

Scoring summary

There was no scoring in the first period, nor the second or third on this night, as Red Deer outshot the home team 43-24 through regulation. That included an onslaught in the third where they fired 20 shots to Spokane’s six.

Teams traded two power plays apiece in the first, and Spokane got a third in the middle frame, but there was simply nothing doing as Kyle Kelsey and Dawson Cowan minded the nets to perfection through 60 minutes.

In overtime, both teams were stumped on breakaways, including Kai Uchacz failing to secure the win for Red Deer, and then a last minute attempt by Ty Cheveldayoff which saw the puck roll off his stick before he could get a shot off.

Each side had two shots in the extra period for a 65 minute total of 45-26 in Red Deer’s favour, and both goalies earning a shutout.

In the shootout, where Spokane was 0-2 this season compared to Red Deer’s 1-3 record, the home side shot first.

Berkly Catton took the first shot, and was stopped by Kelsey, before Uchacz couldn’t get a clean shot away on Cowan and it was 0-0 after round one.

Tomasso De Luca then saw the puck dribble off his stick, before Ben King finally scored a goal to give Red Deer the advantage.

With the game on the line, Spokane’s Cade Hayes was stopped by Kelsey, and the game ended 1-0 Red Deer in the shootout.

Shots

RD: 45

SPO: 26

Power play

RD: 0/2

SPO: 0/3

THREE STARS

1st: Dawson Cowan (SPO) – 45 saves, shutout

2nd: Ben King (RD) – shootout winner

3rd: Kyle Kelsey (RD) – 26 saves, shutout

The Red Deer Rebels are right back at it tomorrow with game two of their U.S. swing. Puck drop is at 5:05 MT vs. the Everett Silvertips. The broadcast can be heard on 106.7 REWIND Radio starting at 4:55.