(Image Credit: Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Ian Gustafson

overtime heartbreak

Rebels eliminated in Eastern Conference quarterfinals following Game 5 loss

Apr 3, 2026 | 10:31 PM

The Red Deer Rebels season came to an end on Friday night despite a tremendous effort on the road.

Prince Albert Raiders Brandon Gorzynski scored 2:21 into overtime at the Art Hauser Centre to win 4-3 over the Rebels in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series.

As a result, the Raiders were victorious in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals 4-1 and advance to the second round of the WHL playoffs.

However, on the other end of the ice the Rebels were visibly devastated as their season ended in heartbreaking fashion.

The Rebels were able to send the game into overtime after scoring in the final minute of the third period. Rebels goaltender Matthew Kondro had a fantastic performance in net stopping 48 of 52 shots faced.

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The Raiders opened the scoring nearly 5:49 into the game off the stick of forward Brock Cripps.

Nearly six minutes later, the Rebels found the equalizer with a goal from forward Beckett Hamilton. Forward Kalder Varga fed Hamilton in the slot and fired a shot that beat the goalie up high.

Hamilton makes it count. #RDREBELS #WHLPlayoffs #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/gRPE5dELYr

— X-Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 4, 2026

In the second period, Raiders forward Owen Corkish put his team back on top with a goal just over two minutes in.

Prince Albert made it 3-1 approximately 14:26 into the middle frame but Red Deer answered back before the end of the period with a goal from Kohen Lodge.

Lodge skated down the left side of the offensive zone before firing a perfect wrist shot that blew past the goalie.

Snipe city! Lodge delivers goal #2. #RDREBELS #WHLPlayoffs #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/EHR0oPOXAV

— X-Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 4, 2026

In the third period, the Rebels tied the game with 47 seconds left in the game when defenceman Nate Yellowaga’s shot on net redirected off a skate and in.

The goal came as a last ditch effort by the Rebels who pulled the goalie for the extra attacker.

Yellowaga finds the net. #RDREBELS #WHLPlayoffs #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/V6pEcVD5Yj

— X-Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 4, 2026

In overtime, the Raiders scored 2:21 into the extra frame scored by Brandon Gorzynski on a wraparound attempt.

Red Deer took to the ice in Saskatchewan without two key players in the lineup including forward Poul Andersen and Matej Mikes.

Stay tuned for more Rebels coverage in the near future as the team will hold their season-end interviews next week.