(Image Credit: Red Deer Rebels/Taylor Lachance)

By Ian Gustafson

Return to the win column

Rebels snap four-game skid with win over Broncos

Feb 28, 2026 | 9:31 PM

The Red Deer Rebels returned to the win column with a hard-fought victory over the Swift Current Broncos.

They defeated their opponents 4-2 to reclaim eighth place in the Eastern Conference in the WHL, overtaking the Moose Jaw Warriors for the final playoff spot.

Head coach Marc Habscheid said after a tough loss to Edmonton the night before, it took everyone to take down an energetic Broncos squad.

“Give Swift Current credit, they played really hard. It was not an easy game. They’ve lost some tough ones 6-0; we’ve all been there, and they showed up tonight. It was a hard game,” he said. “We played okay, but Swift Current played well, so they may have deserved the points. We got the points, and that’s all that matters.”

As a result, the Rebels lead the Warriors by one point with 48 points and trail the seventh-place Regina Pats by five points.

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With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Rebels are in for a battle to book their ticket to the postseason.

“We’re in playoff mode, and it’s a grind. We’ve talked about that, but it hardens you. This is where champions are made in these types of games. We’re in the last 10 games, and we’re one point up. It’s hard we go on the road and play Saskatoon and P.A. [Those are] tough games and we’ve just got to find a way,” he said.

“It’s a grind, it really is. It’s difficult physically, mentally, and you’ve really got to manage your time. When it’s time to bring it, you’ve really got to bring it, but when it’s time to get away from the rink, you have to do that.”

Rebels forward Owen DeWitt, who scored the game-winning goal, said it felt like the team played with energy, which led to the victory.

“It’s a big game, and we need every single one, especially in these last 10 games,” DeWitt said. “Every game means the world right now to make that playoff spot.”

The Broncos got on the board with 9:31 remaining to open the scoring. Forward Hudson Darby was the goal scorer as he notched his 15th of the season on the rebound.

The Rebels responded with 1:12 to go off a point shot from defenceman Aleksey Chichkin that was redirected in by a Broncos defender.

Finding a way by any means necessary. 💥🚨#RDREBELS #WHL https://t.co/TBpqOFaVmG

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 1, 2026

In the second period, the Broncos retook the lead with a shorthanded marker from former Red Deer Rebel Trae Wilke, who beat the goalie in the slot.

A minute later, Rebels Kalder Varga found the equalizer on a rebound attempt from the left side of the net.

Lightning reflexes, goal-scoring instincts: Kalder Varga. ⚡#RDREBELS @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/ElFYGk4zxU

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 1, 2026

Red Deer took their first lead of the night when Owen DeWitt redirected a shot past the goalie from Chichkin.

Chichkin aimed, DeWitt delivered. Rebels’ magic in motion! 💥#RDREBELS @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/20KIKPjhjm

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 1, 2026

In the third period, the Broncos pushed to tie it once again, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Instead, Rebels captain Talon Brigley fired in an empty-netter to seal the deal.

Next week, the Rebels will play four games in seven nights, including a three-game road trip beginning in Prince Albert on Tuesday evening before heading to Saskatoon on Wednesday, and Medicine Hat on Friday. They’ll then welcome the Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday at the Centrium.

“[The key for this week is] just to be resilient,” Habscheid added. “It’s a tough road, but that’s what makes champions. We want to be champions here, and we have to go through things like this. Winning’s not easy, and being a champion’s not easy because everyone would do it… A great thing about team sports is you can rely on your teammates. That’s what makes it fun.”