Red Deer Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser against the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday at the Peavey Mart Centrium. (Red Deer Rebels/Taylor Lachance)

By Alessia Proietti

promising first period

Rebels lose 5-2 against defending WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds

Oct 24, 2023 | 10:36 PM

The defending WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds proved their title on Tuesday night with a 5-2 win against the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

The Rebels started strong in the first period when Carson Birnie scored just after the first minute with a rebound below the goal line on Seattle’s goaltender Spencer Michnik. His second goal this season was assisted by Ollie Josephson and Elias Carmichael, putting the team in a 1-0 lead.

The Thunderbirds evened the game 1-1 when Bryce Pickford scored at 7:33 on Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser.

The Rebels took back their lead at 14:44 when Jhett Larson scored his fourth goal of the season. With Carson Latimer and Jace Weir getting the apples, the home team were 2-1 on the scoreboard.

However, less than 30 seconds later, Seattle’s Gracyn Sawchyn scored an unassisted goal, tying the game once again 2-2.

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After 20 minutes, the Rebels were outshooting the Thunderbirds 13-5.

Although the first power play opportunities of the game were seen for both sides in the second period, no goals were scored. The Rebels slightly outshot the Thunderbirds once again 14-13 in the middle frame.

In the final period, Seattle claimed the lead just after the first minute, with Coster Dunn earning a shorthanded goal. The visitors now were 3-2 against the Rebels.

They scored again at the 14^th minute, with Antonio Martorana doubling the team’s lead 4-2.

With Seattle’s Dunn in the box for a tripping penalty, the Rebels pulled out goalie Rhett Stoesser in an attempt to capitalize on the power play opportunity at 16:39. However, it was to their demise as the Thunderbirds’ Sawchyn scored an empty netter with 21 seconds left in regulation, winning the game 5-2.

The Rebels still outshot the Thunderbirds in the third period 10-7.

The Rebels hold a record of 4-6-0-1 after tonight’s game while the Thunderbirds sit at 7-1-0-0.

Shots

RD: 37

SEA: 25

Power play

RD: 0/2

SEA: 0/3

Three stars

1^st: Gracyn Sawchyn (SEA) – 2G, 2A

2^nd: Jhett Larson (RD) – 1G

3^rd: Bryce Pickford (SEA) – 1G

Rebels head coach Derrick Walser said that while the team held well during penalty kills, it wasn’t enough.

“I thought we were a little bit more aggressive, but we made too [many] big mistakes and it cost us but I thought we generated more offence today which was nice to see,” he said.

He says the team will have to start getting hungry to earn a win “the right way” their next game.

The Rebels will face-off against the Portland Winterhawks this Friday at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND radio at 6:30 p.m.