Rebels ICE’d by Winnipeg 2-1

That goal too was the only one of the second period with Winnipeg outshooting Red Deer 15-11 for a two period total of 25-23 in favour of the ICE.

Winnipeg would regain the lead in the third period though when Matthew Savoie scored his 29^th goal of the season at the 4:38 mark, putting the ICE up 2-1. Zach Benson and Conor Geekie would be credited with the assists.

Then at 17:34, the Rebels pulled goaltender Kyle Kelsey from between the pipes to add the extra attacker, but Kelsey would go back in at 18:42 and back out again at 18:47.

Despite Winnipeg’s Carson Lambos then heading to the box for roughing at 19:13, the ICE would hang on to win 2-1.

Red Deer would outshoot Winnipeg 7-6 in the final frame for a three period total of 31-30 in favour of the ICE.

Winnipeg would also go 0/4 on the power play while the Rebels went 0/5 with the man advantage.

Rebels netminder Kyle Kelsey would be named the game’s third star for stopping 29 of 31 shots for a .935 save percentage on the night. Winnipeg would earn the next stars, however, with Zack Ostapchuk who scored the game’s opening goal, named second star, while Zach Benson who had one assist on the evening and a dominating performance overall, was named the game’s first star.

The loss drops the Rebels record to 37-15-1-3 with 78 points but still in first place in the WHL’s Central Division, while the ICE improve to 46-7-1-0 with 93 points, and also well out in front of the WHL’s East Division.

Rebels head coach Steve Konowalchuk says the team’s effort was much better Friday night.

“That’s more of what we’re looking for,” he acknowledged. “That’s what our team wants to take pride on. I think the effort was there from start to finish.”

“We had the goalie pulled, we had chances to tie there if we execute,” he continued. “So frustrating, but the first thing is you’ve got to get the effort back to where we need it. I think it was a big step in the right direction and we’ve got to keep building on that.”

The Rebels are back in action Saturday, Feb. 25, when they host the Kelowna Rockets for a 7:00 p.m. MST face-off at the Peavey Mart Centrium.

If you can’t make it, you can catch all the action live on 106.7 Rewind Radio.

by Sheldon Spackman

Rebels ICE’d by Winnipeg 2-1

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