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Stoesser backstops Rebels to 40-save shutout of Hitmen

Nov 18, 2023 | 9:57 AM

The Red Deer Rebels concluded a seven-game road swing Friday night in Calgary, shutting out the Hitmen 3-0.

It was not a very fruitful stay away from home, at least not points-wise, but Red Deer can hopefully carry some momentum from their latest win into the next six games, all of which are at home.

On the roadie, the Rebels went 2-3-0-2, also defeating Kelowna. But coming into the game Friday at the Saddledome, they’d lost three straight, all to B.C. Division opponents.

It also began with the first of nine meetings between the now 7-9-0-3 Rebels and 9-9-2-0 Hitmen this season; that was the trip’s opener which Calgary won 7-4.

The teams currently sit fourth and fifth in the Central Division, with 20 and 17 points, respectively, and meet again Saturday.

Head Coach Derrick Walser spoke post-game about his team’s effort…

Scoring summary

The Rebels won each period Friday 1-0.

In the first, Surrey, B.C.’s Carson Latimer (9th) opened the scoring with a power play marker at 7:32.

Latimer (10th) got his second of the night, this time shorthanded, just 37 seconds into the middle frame.

Talon Brigley (6th) then iced it with 11 seconds remaining in regulation, and it finished 3-0 Rebels.

Kai Uchacz had two assists in the game.

Rhett Stoesser (3-4-0-1) earned his second shutout of the season, and the most impressive of his WHL career. Stoesser had two clean sheets all last season, of 23 and 18 saves, respectively. He stopped 29 against Edmonton back on Oct. 17.

Between the pipes

RD: Rhett Stoesser – 40 saves

CGY: Ethan Buenaventura – 27 saves

Shots

RD: 30

CGY: 40

Power play

RD: 1/2

CGY: 0/3

Three stars

1st: Rhett Stoesser (RD) – 40 saves, shutout

2nd: Wyatt Pisarczyk (CGY) – 2 shots, 4 PIM

3rd: Carter Yakemchuk (CGY) – 6 shots, -2 rating

Up next for the Rebels is a rematch with the Hitmen, Saturday night (November 18) at the Centrium in Red Deer. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND Radio starting at 6:30.

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