(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Gustafson

Lose 5-2

Red Deer Rebels fall in Wenatchee to kick off U.S. road trip

Nov 8, 2024 | 10:53 PM

The Red Deer Rebels road trip through the U.S. Division got off to a rough start on Friday night.

In Wenatchee against the Wild, the Rebels lost 5-2 in their first-ever game played in the Town Toyota Center.

The Rebels outshot the Wild in two of the three periods, but ultimately, the Wild had a slight edge 39-35.

Kenta Isogai and Evan Friesen had two points each for the Wild in the victory over the Rebels and goaltender Ethan Hauser made 33 saves.

For the Rebels, Beckett Hamilton and Carson Birnie found the back of the net and netminder Chase Wutzke made 34 saves on 38 shots.

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Midway through the first period, Wenatchee’s leading scorer Kenta Isogai buried an opportunity on the powerplay in front of the net off a rebound.

The Wild extended their lead just four minutes later, when Maddix McCagherty scored on the breakaway after the Rebels nearly scored moments before in the offensive zone.

The Rebels struck early in the second period to split the Wild’s lead in half.

Rookie forward Beckett Hamilton scored just as the Rebels powerplay expired four minutes into the frame, firing a shot in from the slot after he made a move around the defender in open space.

The Wild answered a minute and 16 seconds later scored by Eastyn Mannix who restored their two-goal lead after beating Rebels netminder Chase Wutzke from the top of the left circle. It was also Mannix’s first WHL goal.

The Wild made it 4-1 late in the second period notched by Evan Friesen who took advantage of a Red Deer turnover to score a shorthanded marker.

The Rebels cut into the deficit once again when Carson Birnie scored a one-timer from the left circle, 3:27 into the third period. His sixth goal of the year was also his team-leading 13 point of the season.

The Wild delivered the final blow with 1:10 left in the game scoring an empty net goal off the stick of Caelan Joudrey.

Red Deer is now in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 9-6-1-0 record.

The Rebels will be back on the ice on Saturday night in Kennewick, Wash. against the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m.

They’ll then be off on Sunday before playing the Everett Silvertips on Monday at 8:05 p.m. and the Seattle Thunderbirds on Tuesday at 8:05 p.m.