By Sheldon Spackman

5-4 OT Loss

Rebels lose overtime heart-breaker in Medicine Hat

Feb 10, 2024 | 10:15 PM

The Red Deer Rebels came into Saturday night’s game in Medicine Hat on a six-game losing streak and that winless streak continued with a devastating 5-4 overtime loss to the WHL’s Central Division-leading Tigers.

The Rebels were 2-2-1 against the Tigers so far this season heading into the game.

This one, however, saw the Rebels strike first with Jhett Larson firing a wrist shot, bar-down, beating Medicine Hat netminder Zach Zahara at 8:42 to make it 1-0 for the visitors. It was Larson’s 11^th goal of the season, assisted by Kai Uchacz.

It wasn’t long before Medicine Hat drew even though, as Red Deer’s Jace Weir was called for hooking at 11:25, which set up a Tigers power play. The home team would capitalize with the man advantage and tie it up 1-1, when Tomas Mrsic beat Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke for his 14^th of the season. Oasiz Wiesblatt and Gavin McKenna assisted on the play.

Then with the period winding down, Red Deer’s Kalan Lind scored his 13^th of the season with just 20.5 seconds left to make it 2-1 Rebels heading into the break. Kai Uchacz and Mats Lindgren chipped in with the helpers.

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After 20 minutes, Red Deer had a 2-1 lead despite Medicine Hat outshooting them 15-11 to that point.

The Rebels then took a 3-1 lead at 4:32 of the second period when Frantisek Formanek scored his 14^th of the season with help from Jace Weir and Samuel Drancak.

Red Deer continued with that momentum and scored again at 5:48 when Carson Birnie earned his 12^th of the season to put the Rebels up 4-1. Hunter Mayo and Kai Uchacz assisted on what was a power play goal, following a holding penalty to Medicine Hat’s Andrew Basha at 4:25.

After 40 minutes, Red Deer had a 4-1 lead, but the Tigers outshot the Rebels again, 10-6 in the middle frame.

Medicine Hat made their way back onto the scoresheet in the third period though when Hayden Harsanyi lit the lamp at 4:05 for his 11^th of the season. Jack Kachkowski and Bogdans Hodass provided the assists to make it 4-2.

The Tigers then made it interesting when they pulled to within one after Gavin McKenna snuck one through the five-hole on Chase Wutzke at 8:57 to make it 4-3. Oasiz Wiesblatt and Jack Kachkowski were credited with the assists.

Then with just under two minutes to play in regulation time, Medicine Hat’s Andrew Basha scored his 23^rd goal of the season at 18:03 to tie the game 4-4. Tyler MacKenzie and Oasiz Wiesblatt assisted on the gut-wrenching goal, the third unanswered goal for the Tigers in the third period.

So it was 4-4 after three periods, with the Tigers outshooting the Rebels 15-3 in the third, and 40-20 after 60 minutes.

The overtime period then brought more heartbreak for the Rebels following that game-tying goal, as Bogdans Hodass scored his fourth of the season at 4:41 of extra time to steal a 5-4 OT victory over Red Deer. Hunter St. Martin assisted on the game-winning goal.

The winning goal was the only shot on goal in overtime, with final shots on goal finishing 41-20 in favour of Medicine Hat.

Special teams, as they usually do, played a roll in this game with Red Deer going 2/2 on the power play and Medicine Hat going 1/5 with the man advantage.

Three Stars:

1. Bogdans Hodass – Medicine Hat. 1G, 1A, +/- +2

2. Gavin McKenna – Medicine Hat. 1G, 1A, +/- +2

3. Oasiz Wiesblatt – Medicine Hat. 0G, 3A, +/- +2

The loss drops the Rebels record to 27-17-2-6, but they remain in second place in the WHL’s Central Division. The Tigers, meantime, improve to 31-17-3-1 and remain in first place in the Central Division.

The Rebels next game is Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, 7:00 MST, at the Peavey Mart Centrium when they host the 22-21-6-1 Calgary Hitmen. You can catch all the action live on 106.7 Rewind Radio.

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