Rebels cruise to fifth straight win against Royals

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

Banicevic signed with the Rebels eight days ago after spending the first six games of the season with the Whitecourt Wolverines of the AJHL.

"We're all still human beings"

More Than A Number | Part 1: The man with a million dollar dream

2h ago

the final countdown

Carney: Separatism a "dangerous bluff" at "a moment of unprecedented opportunity"

10h ago

The Everything Red Deer Podcast

Exclusive: rdnewsNOW goes 1-on-1 with Prime Minister Mark Carney

16h ago

Hear more from Banicevic in his postgame interview with rdnewsNOW below:

@rdnewsnow Red Deer Rebels rookie forward Jake Banicevic scored his first WHL goal and hat trick on Friday night. Hear his postgame interview with rdnewsNOW More is at our website #whl #rebels ♬ original sound – rdnewsNOW

Rebels got on the board early when Banicevic knocked in a rebound just 1:26 into the opening frame for his first WHL goal.

Just over three minutes later, Banicevic scored his second of the game with a one-timer from the slot off a pass from defenceman Matus Lisy.

Banicevic has arrived! #RDREBELS | #WHL

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 17, 2026

Victoria answered back with a tally from Ludovic Perreault just over seven minutes in.

The Rebels then scored three straight goals before the end of the first.

It all started with a laser from forward Cole Temple to put Red Deer up 3-1, assisted by Owen DeWitt.

Nothin’ but net for Temple’s first of the season! #RDREBELS | #WHL

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 17, 2026

Meanwhile, defenceman Jake Missura scored near the midway point of the frame with a shot from the point.

Missura lights it! 🚨 #RDREBELS | #WHL

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 17, 2026

Captain Beckett Hamilton then made it 5-1 with a goal from the right circle. His shot went bar down, which forced the Royals to make a goalie change.

Blink and you’ll miss it. 🚀 #RDREBELS | #WHL

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 17, 2026

In the second period, the Royals answered back with a goal from Filip Novak near the midway point to pull within three.

Rebels forward Grayden Peterson restored Red Deer’s four-goal lead just minutes into the third period. Following a pass from Chace Turchak, he picked the top left corner of the net for his second of the season.

Target acquired. 🎯 #RDREBELS | #WHL

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 17, 2026

Victoria responded with a snipe from Nolan Stewart a minute later, but Hamilton scored his eighth goal of the year to lead 7-3.

That Andersen-Hamilton connection. 🔗 #RDREBELS | #WHL

— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) October 17, 2026

Victoria added one more before the end of the game from Cameron Schmidt, but the Rebels scored two more, including an empty-netter from Jake Banicevic and one more with four seconds left from Noah Chadi.

Rebels head coach Brent Kisio said his team had a really great start, but in the second period Victoria pushed back.

“I thought we responded properly in the third period and came out hard,” he said. “We put pucks on net tonight and had a little bit of puck luck, but I thought our guys played hard. If you play hard and go hard to the net, good things happen.”

Even though the Rebels were outshot 36-31, Red Deer did win the special teams battle. They went one-for-three on the power play; meanwhile, they went four-for-four on the penalty kill.

Rebels goaltender Matthew Kondro also made 32 saves.

“I think it’s been back-to-back games where our penalty kill has been really strong tonight. They did a great job and pressured well. When we did give up some, Matty was there to make the save,” Kisio said.

With the win, the Rebels are now in first place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 7-2-0-1 record.

Next up, the Rebels will face the Calgary Hitmen at the Saddledome at 1 p.m. on Saturday.