(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

playoffs schedule determined

Rebels lose 6-3 to Broncos, Central Division leaders, in final regular season match-up

Mar 21, 2024 | 1:26 AM

The Red Deer Rebels lost 6-3 in their final regular season game against the Swift Current Broncos, leaders of the Central Division, on Wednesday at the InnovationPlex.

On a higher note, not only did Rebels Captain Kai Uchacz win Red Deer’s 2023 Male Athlete of the Year, but the team also confirmed their eighth straight appearance in the WHL playoffs. Qualifying every season since 2015, outside the two pandemic years, the streak is the longest in the Eastern Conference. Their first round will be against the Medicine Hat Tigers on March 29 at the Co-op Place.

Red Deer capitalized on their first power play opportunity just six and a half minutes into the first period. As the Broncos’ Tyson Galloway sat in the box for holding, Rebels players crowded the net of goaltender Reid Dyck, with Samuel Drancak scoring from below the goal line on the team’s third attempt. His 12^th goal of the season, assisted by Carson Birnie and Ollie Josephson, put them on the scoreboard 1-0.

With 48 seconds left in regulation, Swift Current’s Clarke Caswell tied the game 1-1 with a goal on Rebels netminder Rhett Stoesser.

After 20 minutes of play, the Rebels were outshooting the Broncos 17-8.

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Swift Current gained the lead in the middle frame when Ryan McCleary scored at 11:43.

The home team was 2-1 and outshot Red Deer 10-7 in the second period.

The Broncos solidified their lead early in the third period with two goals at the five-minute mark, within 18 seconds of each other. The first was by Matthew Ward and the second by Josh Filmon, putting the team ahead 4-1.

At 12:18, the Rebels cut the deficit with a goal by Talon Brigley from below the faceoff circle. Josephson got the helper for his 20^th goal this season, the team now behind 4-2.

But the Broncos’ Connor Gabriel nullified the goal with one of his own at 15:36, pushing their lead 5-2.

Red Deer took a chance pulling out netminder Stoesser with four minutes left to the game. To their luck, Swift Current’s Dawson Gerwing got a hooking penalty just a few seconds later. With a two-man advantage, the Rebels’ Jhett Larson scored his 15^th goal of the season on the power play. At 16:50, Kai Uchacz and Mats Lingren assisted the play to put them behind 5-3.

Finally, the Broncos’ Connor Hvidston scored an empty netter just four seconds afterwards, closing their win at 6-3.

Both teams had nine shots on goal in the third period.

Shots on goal

RD: 33

SC: 27

Power play

RD: 2/4

SC: 0/4

Three stars

1^st: Clarke Caswell (SC) – 1G, 1A

2^nd: Matthew Ward (SC) – 1G, 1A

3^rd: Josh Filmon (SC) – 1G, 1A

Holding the number one spot in the Central Division, the win brings the Broncos’ record to 39-21-4-2 while the Rebels remain in third at 33-24-3-6.

The Rebels will play their final two regular season games in a home-and-home series against the Edmonton Oil Kings, beginning at the Peavey Mart Centrium this Saturday. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND radio.

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