Rebels thwarted by Tigers for fifth time this season

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“Too many things you can’t do to win a game this time of year; it doesn’t matter whether you’re playing a divisional team or not,” said Rebels Head Coach Brent Sutter post-game. “The penalty kill gave up three powerplay goals, the defense was getting beat on one-on-ones, there were bad penalties, two bad goals we needed saves on, and I thought we turned too many pucks over.”

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Sutter continued, saying, “You can get away with these things in minor hockey, but not at this level, especially at this time of the year. You look at the things we did to give up those goals, and it’s not like it’s happening to our young kids. It’s our veterans that are doing that crap. We’ve got some 18 and 19-year-olds that have to be better players for us.”

Despite the disappointment from Sutter, the first period was back and forth and full of scoring chances for both sides. However, zero pucks found the back of the net until the second.

At 4:21 of the middle frame, Medicine Hat’s Elijah Brown notched his 8th of the season and on the first powerplay of the night.

The goal gave the Tigers their 9th powerplay goal on 16 chances in five games against Red Deer this season.

At 9:52 of the second, Red Deer struck back as Ryan Gottfried earned his first career WHL goal. For the 17-year-old Winnipeg native, the goal gives him seven points on the season.

The equal score was short-lived, however, as Tigers leading scorer James Hamblin potted his team-leading 27th goal and 57th point with 4:31 to go in the second.

Then, with 2:21 remaining in the frame, Logan Christensen added another goal on the man advantage for Medicine Hat, further improving the Tigers to 10/17 with the PP against Red Deer.

Just 18 seconds into the third, Red Deer’s leading scorer Brandon Hagel cut the Tigers’ lead to 3-2 with his 28th goal and 71st point of the season. The goal was Hagel’s 90th as a Rebel.

Medicine Hat regained their two-goal cushion at the 4:34 mark, Elijah Brown getting his second of the night.

But Red Deer wouldn’t go away, as captain Reese Johnson netted his 20th at 8:58 and it was 4-3.

Before long though, the lead was a pair once again, Baxter Anderson scoring his 2nd of the year at 13:14, and that was all she wrote on ‘WHL Suits Up with Don Cherry to promote organ donation’ night in Red Deer.

In the loss, both Brandon Hagel (second) and Reese Johnson (third) had one goal and one assist and were named to the three stars of the game. Tiger Elijah Brown, who scored twice, earned first star honours.

With one assist on the night, Hagel moves to within two of tying the Rebels all-time record of 161 held by Aaron Asham. Justin Mapletoft is 2nd with 160.

Ethan Anders made 29 saves and sees his record fall to 22-11-2 on the season. At the other end, Top Prospect Mads Sogaard stopped 36 pucks to improve to 11-4-1.

Medicine Hat is now 11/19 on the man advantage versus Red Deer this season.

Up next for the Red Deer Rebels is a contest against the BC Division’s Prince George Cougars on Saturday. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. from the Centrium, but the broadcast gets going LIVE on 106.7 The Drive at 6:30.