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Rebels buck Broncos in 6-2 home win

Dec 8, 2018 | 10:45 PM

The Red Deer Rebels found their mojo Saturday night potting six goals in what was much closer to a 60-minute effort than they’ve had over the last three weeks.

Coming in, Red Deer hadn’t won back to back games since Nov. 17 and 23, and had only been victorious in two of their last seven games overall.

Swift Current, on the other hand, was a league-worst 5-22-1-1 entering the match-up, but was just a few days removed from beating the CHL’s number one team, the Prince Albert Raiders.

In the end, the Rebels skated away with a 6-2 win over the Broncos in what was the second game of a season-long six-game homestand.

Red Deer-raised Josh Tarzwell got his team on the board first 12 minutes into the game. For Tarzwell, it was his 5th of the season, and captain Reese Johnson got the helper.

Just 53 seconds later, Brandon Hagel netted his 20th goal of the season, and it was 2-0 Red Deer. The point extended Hagel’s point streak to seven games.

With 1:06 remaining in the first, Swift Current’s leading scorer Alec Zawatsky got the Broncos on the scoresheet with his 9th, and it was 2-1 after 20 minutes.

In the second, Red Deer took a stranglehold on the game in a big way.

At 5:09, Cameron Hausinger scored his second in as many games since returning to the Rebels via trade from Kootenay last week. The tally was his 10th of the season and stood up as the game winner.

Then, at 12:48, during a scramble in front of Broncos goaltender Joel Hofer while Red Deer was on the powerplay, Hausinger banged it home for his 2nd of the night and 11th of the season.

The 4-1 lead Red Deer had headed to the third was quickly extended, as Hausinger’s Ice turned Rebel linemate Brett Davis would score his 10th.

At 12:55, Matthew Culling cut the Rebels lead to 5-2, but Brandon Hagel would restore the four-goal lead with three minutes to go. For Hagel, it was his 21st of the season and 2nd goal on the night.

“It’s funny; what I liked most about tonight’s game was not the fact we scored six goals, but how we defended,” said Head Coach Brent Sutter post-game. “Our neutral zone game was much better, we were smarter with the puck and we kept it tighter. Our turnovers were minimal. Certain guys, we talked with them about some things, and how they have to play for us, and I think they took a step (tonight) in playing the right way.”

The Rebels top line of Hagel (2G, 2A), Davis (1G, 3A) and Hausinger (2G, 1A) combined for 11 points Saturday, including five of the Rebels’ six goals.

Davis, a native of Oakbank, MB, and 2017 draft pick of the Dallas Stars, now has nine points in four games since being dealt to Red Deer.

“It was an awesome win in all aspects of our game tonight. I played in Kootenay with Hausy (Hausinger), so we’re pretty good together, then when you throw a guy like Hags (Hagel) on our line, good things are going to happen,” Davis said, also commenting on his recent offensive outburst.

“It’s been nice. I’ve got to give credit to some of my teammates. These last two games we’ve been playing some good hockey.”

Hagel, who’s now 5th in the WHL with 51 points, along with Davis and Hausinger were named the three stars.

Ethan Anders, meanwhile, picked up his 17th win of the season stopping 21 of 23 pucks fired his way.

Red Deer remains at the top of the Central Division with 40 points. Lethbridge, who lost in OT Saturday, is second with 36. Edmonton has 35, Medicine Hat has 31, Calgary is in 5th with 29, and Kootenay sits at 19.

Next up for Red Deer is a date this Tuesday with the BC Division’s Kamloops Blazers. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. from the Enmax Centrium, and the broadcast can be heard LIVE at 6:30 starting with the pre-game show on 106.7 The Drive.