(Red Deer Rebels/Taylor Lachance)

By Ian Gustafson

Saturday victory

Rebels newest additions contribute to snap nine-game skid

Jan 3, 2026 | 9:33 PM

The Red Deer Rebels put an end to their nine-game skid with a 5-3 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday night.

In front of 4,138 fans at the Centrium, the Rebels’ newest acquisitions contributed to begin a new era in Red Deer.

Matej Mikes, Kalder Varga, Poul Andersen, Noah Chadi, and Talon Brigley all found the back of the net. Meanwhile, netminder Peyton Shore made 33 saves on 36 shots to pull out the victory.

Head coach Marc Habscheid said his team found a way to win, despite some extenuating circumstances.

“It wasn’t a Picasso by any means. We had guys travelling. [Defenceman Matus] Lisy came in from Minneapolis, and all the other guys were basically travelling today,” Habscheid said.

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“We threw a lineup together and [Beckett] Hamilton got sick in the afternoon. It was a bit of a mishmash of everything. We tried to keep it simple and find a way to win. We did that, and that’s all that matters.”

When it came to how the Rebels’ newest members played, Habscheid said they were just OK, but they didn’t expect a lot from them given the travel.

“You could tell they really didn’t have their legs, and that’s OK. They competed, battled, and were a part of the group. They gave us what they could, and we know they’re going to be better in the next games once they get a little rest and get climatized,” he added. “Most importantly, we wanted to win to get rid of that streak and get us on the right foot.”

The Thunderbirds found the back of the net just 26 seconds into the first period, scored by Red Deer’s own Brock England. The 16-year-old forward has 31 points in 31 games this season.

The Rebels then scored two straight goals to lead 2-1 heading into the first intermission.

The first came from Czechia forward Matej Mikes, who knocked in the rebound on the offensive rush following a shot from Grayden Peterson.

With under eight minutes left in the opening frame, Rebels Kalder Varga, who was acquired in a trade with the Kelowna Rockets on Friday, scored his first goal as a Rebel.

He sniped ninth of the season with a fantastic shot from the right circle.

In the second period, Seattle tied the game 2-2 just over four minutes in off the stick of Brendan Rudolph, assisted by England.

With 6:59 left, Red Deer restored their lead with a goal from newcomer Poul Andersen on the power play. The 18-year-old forward from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, was acquired by Red Deer from the Edmonton Oil Kings last week. He has 18 points in 32 games.

The Thunderbirds tied the game once again early in the third period, scored by Marcus Laraque.

However, Red Deer took a 4-3 lead with 14 minutes left, scored by defenceman Noah Chadi for his first Western Hockey League goal.

Chadi suited up in just his second game with the Rebels after he was brought in on a tryout basis from the AJHL’s Grande Prairie Storm.

The Thunderbirds pulled their goalie late in the game in an effort to find the equalizer, but Rebels captain Talon Brigley forced a turnover and scored the empty-netter to secure the victory.

Brigley said in an interview after the game that the new additions brought lots of energy.

“Just the new faces, it’s exciting. It always sucks to see guys go, but it’s always exciting to get new guys,” Brigley said. “They’re a young group of guys, lots of skill, so they bring a lot of energy, and it showed tonight. They were showing their moves, and it helped us win the game tonight.”

The Rebels will now head on the road for three games next week, beginning in Brandon on Wednesday at 6 p.m. mountain time, followed by Regina on Friday at 6 p.m., and Swift Current on Saturday at 6 p.m.

“We’ve got four good new players, and I’m looking forward to what they can bring on the road,” Brigley added.