Rebels end three-game skid with 6-4 win over Saskatoon

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Head coach Brent Kisio said it was an improved effort from his team.

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“We have to work to win, and it’s hard to win in this league. I thought our guys came out and played hard tonight,” Kisio said. “Was it a perfect game? No, but sometimes when you’re trying to get out of slumps, it’s not going to be a perfect game. You’re going to have to work for it and earn it. Saskatoon’s a good hockey team that I thought pushed back hard at the end.”

Kisio added that Madill came into the lineup and asserted energy into the team. Despite starting the game on the fourth line, Madill earned a spot on the team’s top line alongside Anderson and Captain Beckett Hamilton.

“I thought he helped that first line get going and score some goals,” Kisio said. “It starts with practice and I think the last day of practice Madill was really good and jumping. I thought the same thing in pregame skate today. You could just see right from the start of the game; he almost got a little bit of a semi-breakaway off a play where he was moving his feet. When that happens, you’ve got to try and find a way to move a guy up.”

Both teams were held scoreless in the first period, and the Rebels were outshot 8-5 by the Blades.

In the second period, the Saskatoon Blades took the lead with 15:18 remaining after the puck was redirected in front of the net. The loose puck found the stick of forward Hayden Harsanyi, who knocked it in.

Rebels forward Cole Temple then found the equalizer just under four minutes later with a shot in front of the net that slid in under the goalie’s pad. The power play goal was assisted by forwards Patrick Sopiarz and Cameron Kuzma.

We are right back where we started. 😎 @Rebelshockey https://t.co/EOUDOpnycn

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 28, 2026

Madill then scored his first WHL goal near the midway point. After making his way past a defender on the offensive rush, Madill fired a shot over the goalie’s blocker to lead 2-1.

First one in the WHL. Keep that puck. 🥹🏒 Paxson Madill has his FIRST! @Rebelshockey https://t.co/JKlb1xnxme

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 28, 2026

Just over a minute later, the Blades tied it 2-2 with a goal from Hunter Laing. It was a bit of an unlucky play for Red Deer as the puck was once again redirected and trickled behind the goalie.

With 2.7 seconds left in the middle period, Hamilton gave the Rebels the lead heading into the third.

He snapped a shot into the open net after a give-and-go play with Madill that moved the netminder out of position.

What a finish from Beckett Hamilton. 🤯 @Rebelshockey | @Avalanche | #GoAvsGo https://t.co/hicH6HO8VI

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) October 28, 2026

In the third period, Rebels rookie Cash Arcand-Vandale scored on a penalty shot early in the frame after he was hooked on a breakaway attempt.

During his penalty shot, he scored with a perfectly placed shot on the goalie’s glove side.

Kisio said it was a special moment for the kid, as you don’t see many first goals come on a penalty shot.

“It was a big goal for our club at the time, and it was really kind of cool to see how energized the bench was and how excited the guys were for him to score,” Kisio said. “It was a heck of a play… I didn’t know what he was going to do, so I was really happy to see the move he pulled, and it went in.”

The Rebels continued to pour it on when forward Poul Andersen buried an opportunity in front of the net off a pass from Madill.

His 12th of the season came 6:39 into the final frame.

Saskatoon then scored two straight goals in the final two minutes to pull within one of tying it.

However, with the goalie pulled, Jake Banicevic scored an empty-net goal while clearing the puck out of the zone.

Post-game, Madill told rdnewsNOW that he blacked out after scoring his first WHL goal.

“It was unreal,” he said. “I don’t remember much, but it’s a surreal moment.”

He said playing alongside Hamilton and Andersen is fun, as you just give them the puck and it often ends up in the back of the net.

“It gives you that extra little boost,” he said.

With the win, the Rebels retook the lead in the Central Division standings with a 8-4-1-1 record.

Next up, the Rebels will host the Calgary Hitmen on Friday at the Centrium at 7 p.m. The Hitmen are just two points behind the Rebels in the standings.