(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

Hat trick for Uchacz

Rebels lose 7-6 in nail-biting shootout against the Pats

Feb 4, 2024 | 10:10 PM

In a neck-and-neck game, the Red Deer Rebels lost 7-6 in a shootout against the Regina Pats on Sunday at the InnovationPlex.

Their fourth loss in a five-game eastern road trip, the Rebels also had a heavy game last night with a 6-3 loss against the Moose Jaw Warriors.

READ: Rebels fall 6-3 to fall two points behind Warriors in playoff race

While the Rebels’ Samuel Drancak celebrated his 18^th birthday during the game, it was also a successful night for Kai Uchacz as he not only scored all three final-period goals for a hat trick, but his 100^th goal in his WHL career. As 97 of them were with the Rebels, he is now tied with Ben King for fifth most goal in Rebels franchise history.

An interference penalty early in the first period for Red Deer’s Quentin Bourne lead the Pats’ Tye Spencer to score at 3:04 on Rebels goaltender Rhett Stoesser. The power play goal put the team in a 1-0 lead.

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At 11:13, the Rebels’ Frantisek Formanek tipped in a goal while standing in front of the crease of Regina netminder Ewan Huet. His 13^th goal of the season was assisted by Matteo Fabrizi and Jace Weir, tieing the game 1-1.

Shortly after at 13:54, Red Deer’s Mats Lindgren scored his seventh goal this season with a one-timer from the blue line. With Jhett Larson and Drancak getting the helpers, the Rebels were now in the lead 2-1.

Although Regina’s Anthony Wilson was given major-kneeing and game misconduct penalties, the team’s Zackary Shantz still scored, shorthanded, at 18:20. The game was tied once again 2-2.

The Rebels were outshooting the Pats 13-7 after 20 minutes of play.

With Regina still on the penalty kill in the second period, the Rebels’ Kalan Lind picked up the puck from the left goal line and scored on the far side at 1:13. Ollie Josephson and Hunter Mayo assisted his 10^th goal of the season, on the power play, returning them to the lead at 3-2.

However, the Pats’ Tanner Howe evened the game 3-3 with a goal at 5:42.

The Rebels slightly outshot the Pats 5-4 in the middle frame.

Shots were fired in the final period, as Red Deer’s Uchacz took back the lead in just 16 seconds with a goal from the low slot through the five-hole. His 31^st goal this season was helped by Larson and Weir. The Rebels led 4-3.

Uchacz scored for a second time for the Rebels, his 32^nd this season, at 5:37 as the puck bounced off his skate and through the back door. With Larson and Formanek getting the apples, the Rebels were now up 5-3.

Halfway through the period, Red Deer’s Elias Carmichael was sent to the box for interference, with the Pats’ Spencer scoring his second goal of the game. The power play goal put the team behind the Rebels 5-4.

At 14:01, the Pats scored once again, with Zach Moore tieing the game 5-5.

Just two minutes later, Regina’s Sam Oremba tapped in a goal to bring his team in the lead 6-5.

As Red Deer’s Stoesser was leaving the ice within the final two minutes of regulation, Uchacz saved the game and earned a hat trick at 18:23. His 33^rd goal this season was off a rebound, hitting the post before reaching the back of the net. With Mayo and Larson claiming the assists and Stoesser back in the net, the game was once again even at 6-6 and heading into overtime.

The Pats were the ones to outshoot the Rebels 10-9 in the third period.

With two shots on goal for the Rebels and one for the Pats in overtime, no goals were scored, pushing the game into a shootout.

In the shootout, the Pats’ Braxton Whitebread and Howe scored the first and third shots, respectively. The Rebels’ Larson and Uchacz both missed theirs, leaving the Pats to win the game 7-6.

Shots on goal

RD: 29

REG: 23

Power play

RD: 1/5

REG: 2/6

Three stars

1^st: Tye Spencer (REG) – 2G, 1A

2^nd: Ty Gibson (REG) – 3A

3^rd: Kai Uchacz (RD) – 3G

The loss puts the Rebels in second place of the Central Division with a record of 27-15-1-6 while the win keeps the Pats in last place of the East Division with 18-25-4-2.

The Rebels will play their last eastern road trip game against the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. MT with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND radio 10 minutes before.

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