Red Deer Rebels forward Ollie Josephson gets a scoring chance against the Calgary Hitmen at the Peavey Mart Centrium on March 9, 2024. (Red Deer Rebels)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

hitmen tap out

Rebels trounce Hitmen for third straight game, clinch playoff berth

Mar 9, 2024 | 10:11 PM

Make it eight straight wins for the Red Deer Rebels (32-22-2-6) over the Calgary Hitmen (26-28-7-1).

The Rebels beat Calgary 5-2 Saturday night at the Centrium, securing a playoff spot and eliminating Calgary from contention.

Now, both teams have five games remaining in the regular season and very different looking calendars as we approach the WHL post-season.

Despite the win, Red Deer still sits two points back of Swift Current. The Broncos won 6-3 Saturday against Brandon, and hold down second in the Central Division. Swift Current has two additional games, however. Medicine Hat, who lost Saturday, leads the division but only by one point over Swift Current and three over Red Deer.

On a side note, Calgary actually beat Red Deer in their first meeting this season, but proceeded to lose the next eight.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

13h ago

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

That includes the last three straight games for each team, all of which were against each other this weekend and last.

Scoring summary

Red Deer got out in front early in this one and never relented.

Hunter Mayo (10th) got scoring started just 2:15 into the first, and the period finished 1-0 Rebels.

Dwayne Jean Jr. (4th) doubled the Rebels lead, again early in the second, scoring at the 2:45 mark. Evan Smith earned his first career assist on the goal.

Jean Jr. (5th) scored once more, this time at 9:53 of the middle frame, and what was the eventual game-winner.

Exactly one minute later, Talon Brigley (18th) made it 4-0 home team.

Before the second was out, however, the Hitmen cut the deficit to three when Maxim Muranov (20th) scored a power play marker at 16:04.

After 40, it was 4-1 Rebels.

The third period brought more scoring for Red Deer when Matthew Gard (6th) bulged twine at 13:38.

Finally, Keets Fawcett got one back for Calgary on the power play with 42 seconds left in regulation, but it was far too little and certainly too late.

Final score: 5-2 Rebels.

Rhett Stoesser (12-11-0-3) made 23 saves for the W, and Ethan Buenaventura (20-20-5-1) stopped 32 in the loss.

Shots

CGY: 25

RD: 37

Power play

CGY: 2/6

RD: 0/2

Three stars

1st: Jeremiah Roberts (RD) – 3 assists

2nd: Dwayne Jean Jr. (RD) – 2 goals

3rd: Hunter Mayo (RD) – 1 goal

Here is the remaining regular season schedule for Red Deer:

Friday, March 15 @ Lethbridge – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 16 vs. Lethbridge – 7 p.m. at the Centrium

Wednesday, March 20 @ Swift Current – 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 23 vs. Edmonton – 7 p.m. at the Centrium

Sunday, March 24 @ Edmonton – 4 p.m.

All game broadcasts can be heard live on 106.7 REWIND Radio.

—

Download the rdnewsNOW mobile app on Google Play and the Apple App Store for all the latest updates on this and other stories.