(Image Credit: Mark Peterson/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Ian Gustafson

Statement made

Rebels storm back in third to stun Raiders

Mar 3, 2026 | 9:27 PM

Fans tuning in to the Red Deer Rebels game on Tuesday night caught a glimpse of what could be a potential first-round playoff series in the upcoming WHL postseason.

In a showdown with the Eastern Conference-leading Prince Albert Raiders, the two teams delivered an instant classic.

The Rebels came out on top with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory to shock the Canadian Hockey League’s second-highest-ranked team at the Art Hauser Centre.

The Rebels trailed the Raiders 3-1 heading into the final frame, only to notch three unanswered goals to secure a much-needed win.

Rebels netminder Matthew Kondro was fantastic in the net with 45 saves on 48 shots.

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The game winner was scored by forward Cameron Kuzma just 13 seconds after Matej Mikes tied the game.

OMG!! CAMERON KUZMA WALKS DOWN THE ICE AND SCORES A BEAUTY!!!@REBELSHOCKEY TAKE THE LEAD!!! 😧😮 pic.twitter.com/vXaLeUvjKq

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) March 4, 2026

To say the victory was an important one for Red Deer would be an understatement as they remain in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points.

They are just one point ahead of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who also won on Tuesday, and gained ground on the seventh-place Regina Pats, who lost to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Rebels now trail the Pats by just three points with nine games remaining.

The Raiders dominated the opening period, outshooting the Rebels 23-6 while also scoring a couple of goals.

The first came from P.A.’s Alisher Sarkenov, who found the back of the net nearly two minutes in, followed by a marker from Brayden Dube just under seven minutes after.

In the second period, it was more of an evenly matched contest as both teams found the back of the net. The Raiders also had a slight 14-13 edge in shots.

The Rebels got on the board with 14:26 remaining in the frame off the stick of defenceman Aleksey Chichkin, who knocked in the rebound.

His opportunity in front of the net came after the initial rush from forward Patrick Sopiarz.

Aleksey Chichkin clocks in at the crease. 🚨#RDREBELS @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/JnIX9NaQKT

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 4, 2026

The Raiders then took a 3-1 lead with 4:42 left in the second, scored by Maddix McCagherty as a result of consistent offensive pressure by Prince Albert.

In the third period, the Rebels pulled within one with 7:16 left in regulation.

Red Deer’s leading scorer, Beckett Hamilton, notched his 21st of the campaign after he fired a perfect wrist shot from the slot that beat the netminder high on the blocker side.

Carved his path & picked his target. 🎯#RDREBELS #WHL https://t.co/FdiWCJLKiK

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 4, 2026

Red Deer then found the equalizer with 2:49 remaining, scored by Matej Mikes on the power play after the rebound was mishandled by the goalie.

Equalizer energy! ⚡️#RDREBELS #WHL https://t.co/PIpDqlpZNR

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) March 4, 2026

Kuzma then sealed the deal shortly after with a beautiful goal on the offensive rush.

Next up, the Rebels will return to action on Wednesday in Saskatoon against the Blades at 6 p.m. before taking on the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Friday at 7 p.m.

Red Deer will then return home on Saturday to rematch the Raiders at the Centrium at 7 p.m.

Rebels notes: Rebels forward Cole Temple returned to the lineup following a lengthy absence due to a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Rebels’ 20-year-old forward Tyson Yaremko left the game with an apparent injury and did not return.