(Image Credit: Taylor Lachance/Red Deer Rebels)

By Ian Gustafson

Four games remaining

Rebels strengthen playoff bid with OT victory over Wheat Kings

Mar 13, 2026 | 10:34 PM

The Red Deer Rebels needed a hero, and on superhero-themed night at the Centrium, they got one.

Just 29 seconds into overtime, forward Beckett Hamilton snapped home the game-winning goal in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

When asked about the exciting end to the game, head coach Marc Habscheid quoted the late legendary Calgary Flames broadcaster, Ed Whalen.

“It was a ring-a-ding-dong dandy,” Habscheid said. “It wasn’t a picasso but I think we played a real structured game. The guys were maybe a little bit too careful, but they were trying to do the right things to try to win. At this point in time, it doesn’t matter what it looks like, you’ve got to find a way to win.”

A hero on skates. 🦸‍♂️#RDREBELS #WHL #BeASuperhero https://t.co/swPMBzCgdk

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 14, 2026

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The Rebels’ bench boss credited his team’s penalty kill, which held Brandon scoreless on four opportunities.

He also got a Superman-type effort from his goaltender, Matthew Kondro, who made 39 saves on 41 shots.

“He made some big saves, but that’s what you need if you’re going to win,” Habscheid said. “You need your goalie to play, and he played for sure. We got some timely goals as well. Mikes had a great game with a shorthanded goal.”

As a result, the Rebels remain in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They’re now two points ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who lost 11-0 to the Prince Albert Raiders. With four games to go in the regular season, the Rebels also have a game in hand over the Warriors.

Hear from Kondro, who was named the first star of the game, following his outstanding performance in the video below:

@rdnewsnow The #RedDeer Rebels earned a 3-2 OT win over the Wheat Kings on Friday. Kondro made 39 saves in the effort @westernhockeyleague #reddeerrebels ♬ original sound – rdnewsNOW

The Wheat Kings struck first with 5:08 left in the opening period off the stick of Sylvan Lake product, Caleb Hadland.

The Rebels found the equalizer less than a minute into the second period. Forward Matej Mikes fired a shot through traffic in front of the net that beat the goaltender.

Early heroics from Matej Mikes. 🚨#RDREBELS #WHL #BeASuperhero https://t.co/Fu9qaoadWA

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 14, 2026

Mikes then scored his second of the game with 13:47 left in the second while on the penalty kill. The Czechia resident forced a turnover in the neutral zone before firing a shot on net that squeaked past the goaltender and off the left post. Mikes was there to knock in the loose puck.

Hero mode: ON. 🦸‍♂️#RDREBELS #WHL #BeASuperhero https://t.co/v0CfWI5INU

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 14, 2026

In the third period, the Wheat Kings tied the game with 2:02 remaining after they pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. Forward Jaxon Jacobson scored from a sharp angle near the left side of the net that beat the goalie up high.

However, the Rebels didn’t let it faze them as they secured the victory in overtime off the stick of their leading goal scorer.

Next up, the Rebels will host the Calgary Hitmen on Saturday at 6 p.m. before heading out on the road to Lethbridge on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

They’ll then wrap up the regular season with back-to-back games against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21.

Injury notes: Rebels forward Tyson Yaremko is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Red Deer was also without 20-year-old defenceman Aleksey Chichkin on Friday with an injury sustained on Tuesday’s loss to Wenatchee. It’s unclear how much time he’ll miss.