(Photo by Taylor Lachance/ Red Deer Rebels)

By Ian Gustafson

Rebels victory

Rebels knock off league-best Saskatoon Blades

Oct 19, 2024 | 10:19 PM

For the the first time since the 2024 WHL Playoffs, the Saskatoon Blades were in town to take on the Rebels.

Despite a nail-biting finish, the Rebels came out on top with a 2-1 victory at the Peavey Mart Centrium to knock off the number one team in the Western Hockey League.

The Blades outshot the Rebels in the opening period 13-8 but despite that, Red Deer scored twice in the first to secure the victory.

The Rebels then outshot the Blades in the second 18-12 and in the third, 9-6.

“It was a really good game,” said head coach Dave Struch.

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“[Goaltender] Chase Wutzke kept us in it in the first period. They came hard I thought we were back on our heels a lot. We made some really soft plays, we played slow, but we responded in the second. I thought that we got better there.

“The third period was great. I thought right from the backend out we played our game and obviously the win is a big one for us against a really good team.”

The Rebels struck first in the opening period when defenceman Hunter Mayo fired a shot from the point that made it through plenty of traffic before beating Blades goalie Evan Gardner.

His sixth goal of the season was also his 100th point as a member of the Rebels.

Mayo said it was nice to get that out of the way early in the year.

“On to the next 100,” he said.

“I guess it’s safe to say we have a rivalry against them after the last two years they took us out of the playoffs. We’re always making sure we come to play against them.”

With just 1:38 left in the first period, the Rebels went up 2-0 scored by forward Jhett Larson after he pounced on a rebound in the crease off a Carson Birnie shot.

However, the Blades cut the Rebels lead in half nearly five minutes into the second period, when Brandon Lisowsky ripped a shot in the slot that beat netminder Chase Wutzke.

Despite plenty of back-and-forth the Blades were unable to find the equalizer in the last period and a half of play. Saskatoon pushed for it but Wutzke in net was a difference maker.

The 18-year-old made 30 saves on 31 shots. Meanwhile, Blades goaltender Evan Gardner also had a big game with 33 saves on 35 shots.

With the win, the Rebels are now tied for the lead in the Central Division and are in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Conference standings.

“Both teams played on their toes. As much as we didn’t early in the game, we still played a good game,” Stuch added.

“We just expect more. We have higher expectations and standards to where we want to be… We use the term playoff mindset. I know it’s early in the year but having a playoff mindset against the top teams is really important to win hockey games.”

The Rebels were fresh off a 5-4 overtime victory in Calgary on Wednesday. They’ll return to the ice on Sunday afternoon against the Edmonton Oil Kings at 4 p.m. at the Centrium.

Wutzke, Gardner, and Mayo were named the three stars of the game.