(Image Credit: Red Deer Rebels/Taylor Lachance)

By Ian Gustafson

Controversial goal call

Rebels on the brink of elimination following Game 3 loss

Mar 31, 2026 | 10:12 PM

The Red Deer Rebels’ playoff lives are now hanging by a thread after falling 4-2 to the Prince Albert Raiders on Tuesday.

As a result, the Rebels trail the Raiders 3-0 in the best-of-seven series following a Game 3 loss at the Centrium in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Rebels head coach Marc Habscheid said the second period was most likely the difference in the game.

“We had a couple of breakaways and didn’t cash in,” he said. “That kind of comes back to haunt you a little bit.”

The second period also featured a controversial goal call that went the Raiders’ way.

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After the Rebels mistakenly knocked over their own goalie, Raiders Aiden Oiring fired a shot on net, which appeared to be stopped by the glove of netminder Matthew Kondro. However, after the WHL officials reviewed it, they determined that, despite the glove save, the puck still crossed the line and the Raiders took a 3-2 lead.

It turned out to be the game-winning goal.

That same period, Rebels forward Poul Andersen was sent into the offensive zone on a breakaway and appeared to be hauled down by a Raiders defender. There was no penalty call on the play, and Andersen left the game with an apparent injury and did not return.

“That was a tough call,” Habscheid added. “Even the one that turned out to be the winning goal. We looked at it between periods and zoomed in. Part of the glove was in, but you couldn’t see the puck… It’s difficult for sure, but putting all of those things aside, we haven’t scored an even-strength goal in the series yet. You’re not going to win many games like that, so it’s a fine line. You’ve still got to play well defensively, but we have to find ways to score five-on-five, and we haven’t done that.”

The Raiders scored the opening goal 8:24 into the first period with Alisher Sarkenov knocking in the rebound.

However, just over two and a half minutes later, the Rebels tied the game on the power play. Forward Patrick Sopiarz redirected a pass past the goaltender from Poul Andersen in front of the net.

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Sopiarz on the back door! 🚪#RDREBELS #WHLPlayoffs #FeedingtheFuture https://t.co/xT1lXJwnZZ

— X-Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 1, 2026

Red Deer then took their first lead of the game with 6:06 remaining in the opening period. The goal came off the stick of forward Kalder Varga, who scored from the slot on the power play, assisted by Beckett Hamilton.

Home ice, powerplay magic. 🪄#RDREBELS #WHLPlayoffs #FeedingtheFuture pic.twitter.com/L6HUg84r8U

— X-Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) April 1, 2026

The Raiders then tied it once again with exactly a minute to go in the first. Sarkenov scored his second of the night after Prince Albert fired multiple shots on net with the goaltender sprawled out in the crease. Hamilton had blocked the initial shot in the crease to keep the puck out, but the Raiders got another whack at it and buried it.

In the second period, the Raiders took the lead with 3:32 remaining on the controversial goal call.

In the third period, the Rebels pushed for the equalizer, but the Raiders scored an empty net with 16 seconds left to seal the deal.

Next up, the Rebels will look to avoid the sweep on Wednesday in Red Deer. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.

Habscheid said it will be key for his team to regroup with the quick turnaround.

“Our goal is to still support our players and try to help them find ways to win,” Habscheid added. “We’ll go through some video and see what we can correct and see if there’s any cracks in their armour that we can take advantage of… Our guys are a good character group, and we’ll show up tomorrow. We expect to win tomorrow.”