(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

Uchacz: Sixth Rebels player to score 50

Rebels lose 6-4 to Hurricanes in final road game of regular season

Mar 24, 2023 | 11:24 PM

The Red Deer Rebels lost to the Lethbridge Hurricanes 6-4 at the Enmax Centre Friday night in their final road game of the regular season.

While the Rebels’ Kalan Lind returned to the ice for the first time in nearly two months following an upper body injury, it was a shining moment for Kai Uchacz as he became the sixth player in Rebels history to reach 50 goals in a season.

In the first period, the Hurricanes’ Dustin Renas opened the scoring at 3:13 when he picked up his second goal of the season on Rebels goaltender Chase Coward. The goal was assisted by Anton Astashevich and Noah Chadwick to make it 1-0 Lethbridge.

Shortly afterwards with the Hurricanes’ Chase Pauls in the box for interference, the home team still managed to score a shorthanded goal with Hayden Smith scoring his 14^th of the season at 7:13, assisted by Brayden Edwards, giving Lethbridge a 2-0 lead.

But with just under two minutes to play in the first, the Rebels’ Kai Uchacz scored his 50^th goal of the season with a one-timer from the faceoff circle on Lethbridge’s netminder Bryan Thomson. With the assists made by Craig Armstrong and Jace Isley, the Rebels cut the Hurricanes lead to 2-1.

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Shortly after with just 26 seconds left to the period, the Hurricanes’ Chase Pauls scored his seventh goal this season, with the help of Hayden Smith and Brayden Edwards to make it 3-1 Lethbridge heading into the first intermission.

After 20 minutes of play, the Hurricanes outshot the Rebels 10-7.

In the middle frame, Lethbridge’s Tyson Zimmer scored his 18^th goal of the season just after the first minute. With Brayden Edwards claiming the assist, the Hurricanes were now in a 4-1 lead.

Over one minute later, the home team scored again with Tristen Doyle scoring his fourth goal this season. Tristan Zandee and once again Brayden Edwards claimed the assists, for a 5-1 lead against the Rebels.

Lethbridge outshot Red Deer 12-9 in the second period and 22-16 after 40 minutes.

But Red Deer gave it their all in the final period, when Talon Brigley unknowingly deflected a goal into the net while standing in front of the crease. His fourth goal this season at 7:38 was assisted by Hunter Mayo and Dwayne Jean Jr., putting the Rebels behind 5-2.

At 13:48, Red Deer’s Craig Armstrong picked up the puck from the boards to score his 11^th goal this season. The unassisted goal pushed the team closer behind the Hurricanes, 5-3.

Less than one minute later, the Rebels’ Jhett Larson dodged the Lethbridge offence down the ice before giving the puck to Jace Isley in a backhanded pass. Isley scored his 30^th goal of the season, with Hunter Mayo claiming the other assist alongside Larson. The team was now just one goal behind the Hurricanes, 5-4.

Now anybody’s game, the Rebels pulled out goaltender Chase Coward within the final three minutes, but quickly put him back in when two players were sent to the box. Kalan Lind was given two penalties, a 10-minute misconduct and interference on the goaltender with the latter to be served by Nicholas Andrusiak.

The Rebels pulled out netminder Chase Coward once again at 18:47, with both men still off the ice, but to their demise when the Hurricanes’ Joe Arnsten scored his 11^th goal on the power play. The empty netter, assisted by Jett Jones, gave Lethbridge a 6-4 victory in the final 32 seconds of the game.

The Rebels ended up outshooting the Hurricanes in the third period 18-5 and 34-27 overall.

Red Deer went 0/8 on the power play while Lethbridge went 1/5 with the man advantage.

The Hurricanes were given all three stars this game with Cole Shepherd receiving the third star and Jett Jones, who had one assist, earning the second star. Goaltender Bryan Thomson was awarded the first star for saving 30 shots on goal.

The loss drops the Rebels record to 42-19-3-3, but still first place of course in the WHL’s Central Division while the Hurricanes remain in second place with a record of 36-25-3-3.

The Rebels will play against the Hurricanes in a rematch on home ice Saturday night for their final game of the regular season. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium with the broadcast live on 106.7 REWIND Radio.