Rebels open new season with 4-2 loss against Oil Kings

In the first period, the Oil Kings gained the edge when Marshall Finnie scored at 6:42 on Rebels goaltender Kyle Kelsey. With John Szabo and Rhys Pederson claiming the assists, the scoreboard now read 1-0 for the visitors.

However, when Edmonton’s Ethan MacKenzie was given a penalty for tripping, Red Deer’s Kai Uchacz seized the power play opportunity, scoring with a one-timer on Oil Kings netminder Kolby Hay at 14:38. Tieing the game 1-1, the assists went to Quentin Bourne and Carson Latimer.

After 20 minutes of play, the Rebels outshot the Oil Kinds 13-9.

In the middle frame, the Oil Kings took the lead when Aidan Litke scored a goal at 4:46, assisted by Adam Jecho.

Now 2-1 for Edmonton, the Oil Kings also slightly outshot the Rebels 12-11 in the second period.

It was a battle in the final period, beginning with a power play goal by the Oil Kings’ Kian Bell as Red Deer’s Nicholas Andrusiak sat in the box for holding. Assisted by Parker Alcos and Aidan Litke at 16:34, the home team led 3-1.

However, the Rebels’ Carson Latimer restored hope when he scored with a one-timer just over a minute later. With Jace Weir and Frantisek Formanek claiming the assists, the Rebels were now behind 3-2.

With goaltender Kyle Kelsey leaving the net for the final two minutes, it was to their demise when Edmonton’s Aidan Litke scored an empty netter with 17 seconds left to the game.

Finishing 4-2 for the Oil Kings, the Rebels still outshot Edmonton 14-12 in the third period, and 38-33 overall.

The Rebels went 1/8 on the power play while the Oil Kings went 1/6 with the man advantage.

While Edmonton’s Kolby Hay took home the third star of the game, Red Deer’s Kai Uchacz was given the second star, scoring the first goal of the season for the team. The Oil Kings’ Aidan Litke was awarded the first star of tonight’s game.

First game of the regular season for new Rebels coach Derrick Walser, he said the crowd’s energy and support were outstanding and the team played well in the first period.

However, he says the team got into penalty trouble and didn’t capitalize on power plays.

“I’m willing to shoot the puck for second pucks. That’s the problem, we were too slow. We were taking too long to shoot the puck and we weren’t getting to the pain. Sometimes you’re not shooting to score, you’re shooting for second or for a rebound. Every time we put something in the feet, there was a cluster in front of the net; you got to get hungry. We weren’t hungry enough. Edmonton was, they manned up now we got to go back and play them tomorrow and we just got to man up and compete,” he said.

Forward Kai Uchacz said while this was not the start of the season they wanted, the team could have been more disciplined, potentially letting nerves get the best of them.

“Sun rises tomorrow, I guess. We get another stab at these guys and we’re going to come up with a game plan and bring the energy tomorrow and hopefully get to take two points,” he said.

He said they will have to get more bodies and traffic to the net at Saturday night’s rematch against the Oil Kings.

Puck-drop is at 7 p.m. at Rogers Place, with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND Radio.

by Alessia Proietti

Rebels open new season with 4-2 loss against Oil Kings

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