Rebels lose 6-2 to visiting Raiders

After 20 minutes, Red Deer trailed the Raiders 2-1 and outshot them 15-9.

In the middle frame, another power play got the best of the Rebels after Dwayne Jean Jr. was given an interference penalty. The Raiders’ Krzysztof Macias scored at 4:13, and was assisted by Matej Kubiesa, pushing PA’s lead to 3-1.

Just before the halfway mark, Prince Albert’s Krzysztof Macias scored a hat trick, with Oli Chenier and Niall Crocker claiming the assists, putting the Raiders in a 4-1 lead.

By this time, the Rebels switched out netminder Chase Wutzke for Rhett Stoesser, who hasn’t been on the ice since February 2022 due to an injury.

But the Raiders continued their dominance with another power play goal at 12:38 after Red Deer’s Evan Smith was given a tripping penalty. Prince Albert’s Ryder Ritchie scored, with Niall Crocker and Sloan Stanick getting the helpers on the goal for a 5-1 lead.

Then with just two minutes left in the period, the Raiders’ Ryder Ritchie scored a back-to-back goal, with Eric Johnston getting the assist.

The second period showed 6-1 on the scoreboard for the Raiders as they outshot the Rebels 10-9.

In the final period, the Rebels came back with a power play goal at 13:25 after the Raiders’ Tyrone Sobry was sent to the box for tripping. Red Deer’s Carson Latimer scored his second goal of the night, and third this season, in front of the crease. Assisted by Talon Brigley and Mats Lindgren, the Rebels were still behind 6-2.

Although the Rebels outshot the Raiders 11-7 in the third frame, they were unable to catch up.

Shots

RD: 35

PA: 26

Power Play

RD: 2/5

PA: 3/7

Three stars

1^st: Krzysztof Macias, PA (3G, game-winning, insurance goal)

2^nd: Justice Christensen, PA (2A)

3^rd: Niall Crocker, PA (4A)

The Rebels are now 1-3-0-0 on the season while the Raiders are 3-3-0-0.

Rebels coach Derick Walser said he was very unhappy with the game, with players taking too many penalties. The Rebels were given 12 penalties this game, many due to fighting.

“Right now, we’re not doing enough to win games. You can’t show up the last period [and] start playing physical,” he said, adding that players weren’t willing to sacrifice bodies. “It hurts to win and we’re unwilling to lay the body on the line to block shots and it’s going to change and if these guys don’t want to do it, I’m going to put guys in who are wiling to do it.”

He said while many look at the Rebels as a good hockey team, that reputation is earned, not given. He says fine details in the team’s playing strategy will need to change as well as developing a hunger to win.

“That means you have icebags after the game. We don’t have ice bags on our body; we didn’t block a shot until the end. Their team was laying down, blocking everything. That’s what it takes to win, and you need your goaltenders to make saves,” he said.

Rebels Captain Kai Uchacz commented on the frustrations that boiled over in the second and third period.

“When you’re down that much, you just want to make an impact somehow, so I think your emotions get out of hand and guys are just trying to spark the team,” he said.

He says he thinks the team needs to get over the slump they’re in and come together for a win next game on home ice.

The Rebels will have that chance this weekend against the Lethbridge Hurricanes Saturday, October 7. Puck-drop is 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium with the broadcast, including pre-game, live on 106.7 REWIND Radio starting at 6:30 p.m.

by Alessia Proietti

Rebels lose 6-2 to visiting Raiders

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