By Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Rebels lose Alexeyev in close win over Kamloops

Dec 11, 2018 | 9:48 PM

The Red Deer Rebels lost one of their star players in the first period, but still managed to grind out a 2-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers Tuesday night at the Enmax Centrium.

The Rebels improved to 20-9-2-0 on the season, good for 42 points and a five-point lead over Edmonton atop the WHL Central Division standings. 

““Our whole group is pretty good at dialing in, especially when we need to,” said Rebels captain Reese Johnson, the game’s first star. “I think the last six minutes we really shut it down. We didn’t really give them much, which is huge in a game like that.”

The Rebels received a scare late in the first period when Zane Franklin hit defenceman Alexander Alexeyev into the boards near the Rebels bench. Alexeyev stayed down on the ice for a couple minutes before heading to the dressing room. He did not return to the game and was later taken to hospital, while Franklin received a boarding major and game misconduct.

Two-Year Diploma

Red Deer Polytechnic creates accelerated Practical Nurse Diploma pathway for health care professionals

1h ago

advocating for strategic action

Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce comment on Land Use Bylaw public hearing

1h ago

Chance to win prizes

Registration open for Green Deer spring cleanup campaign

2h ago

Late in the ensuing power play, Johnson coralled a rebound and put home his 14th goal of the season past Blazers goalie Dylan Ferguson for a 1-0 Rebels lead through 20 minutes.

Scoring chances weren’t as frequent in the middle frame, though the Rebels controlled a decent amount of the play and forced Kamloops into a taking a handful of minor penalties. Alex Morozoff put the Rebels up 2-0 with his sixth goal of the year on a shot that eluded Ferguson on his glove side at the 15:06 mark.

Kamloops pulled within a goal 7:14 into period three when Brodi Stuart finished off a pretty 2-on-1 with his eighth goal of the year past Rebels netminder Ethan Anders. But that was it for scoring in this one as the Rebels held on for the narrow victory.

Red Deer outshot Kamloops 43-32 on the night and went 1/9 on the power play while holding the Blazers to 0/3.

“I thought power plays took momentum away from the game,” Rebels GM/head coach Sutter lamented. “The percentages aren’t great. Some power plays we didn’t generate anything on it.”

Sutter was, however, happy his team found a way to earn two points. 

“It was a game where we didn’t give up a lot of high percentage chances. We kept a lot of stuff to the outside. When (Anders) did have to make a save he did, especially in the last minute.”

Sutter had little to share regarding the condition of Alexeyev. 

“No idea,” Sutter said when asked about the star defenceman, who is slated to play for Russia at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.

The Rebels play their final game before the holiday break Friday at home versus Medicine Hat (7 p.m. on 106.7 THE DRIVE).