At this point in a lengthy season, it is hard to call Ethan Anders a rookie anymore. While the team has had its struggles, Anders has posted some pretty decent numbers this season outside of his win-loss record. Before appearing in his 30th game of the year his record stood at 6-14-4-1. It is his goals against average and save percentage that really put the spotlight on his rookie year. Anders allowed just 3.15 goals per game which was good for 9th in the Western Hockey League. His .902 save percentage had him in the top 20.
During the game Anders would go on to make another 41 saves, allowing just two goals against a powerful Kelowna Rockets team that had the fourth most goals in the WHL at 193.
There would be no goals for either team through 20 minutes of action. While the Rockets would out shoot the Rebels 15-10, the teams had an even amount of chances and head coach Brent Sutter thought his team played well through the first period, “Obviously that’s a pretty good team we played here tonight, but I thought our first period was really good.”
The second period would see each team score a goal but it was the Rockets who dominated the Rebels early and often. The Rockets were able to plug up the Rebels passing lanes and frustrate the team. Red Deer did give the Rockets their best chances of the period during an Ethan Sakowich minor for roughing. The third-ranked Kelowna power play wouldn’t score on any of the four chances they received.
It would take nearly 35 minutes before a goal would be scored. James Hilsendager’s shot went off a stick in front of the Rebel net and Leif Mattson would put it past Anders who hadn’t quite squared up for the second attempt. It would be Mattson’s 17th goal of the season and the Rockets would take the 1-0 lead.
It would take less than three minutes for the Rebels to steal the tying goal. Mason McCarty blocked a Ted Brennan point shot and was off to
the races. Braydyn Chizen did everything he could to catch the speedy McCarty but it was no use. McCarty’s speed won out and he snapped a shot over the blocker of affiliate goaltender Cole Tisdale. Tisdale was starting his third game in a row for the Rockets, called up due to injuries to James Porter and Roman Basran.
“Our second period wasn’t as good”, chimed in Sutter after the game
The Rebels penalty kill was really on a roll in this one and it showed when Josh Tarzwell worked hard in the Rockets end of the ice. The puck went in behind the Rocket net and Hilsendager picked it up from the goaltender. Tarzwell swooped in and raised Hilsendager’s stick. The puck would come free and Tarzwell poked it into the slot area. He then caught up to the puck, turned and fired the puck past Tisdale. It would be the first Rebels lead of the game and it came short-handed at 1:25 of the first period.
When asked about Tarzwell, Sutter was quite complementary, “I thought as the game went on he got better and better, the second and third periods were his best periods. He is getting rewarded now for playing the game more the right way, the more I like to see him play and he is capitalizing on some chances.”
None of the 4644 fans thought the Rockets would just roll over after that goal and they didn’t. The pressure kept coming in waves. Ethan Anders would face his stiffest test in the third, Kelowna directed 17 shots on net. Unfortunately for the Rebels he couldn’t stop all of them. With the Rockets goalie pulled the Rebels took a shot at the opposing net. It wouldn’t go in and sent a tired group back for a faceoff in the Rebels end. From the bench Brent Sutter expressed his displeasure at his charges and he would be right about the damage done.
A point shot from Cal Foote would make its way towards the Rebel net and get deflected towards the far side boards. While fluttering through the air, Kole Lind was set up at the bottom of the circle with a chance to bat the puck. He did and the knuckle puck made its way to the back of the net with just 33 seconds left in regulation. It would extend Lind’s point streak to 18 games (14 goals, 20 assists) The game would head to overtime.
This is where the Rockets have shone and the Rebels have been dim. Kelowna headed into overtime with nine wins and three loses in 12 games that headed to extra time. Red Deer on the other hand had just three wins in 14 attempts and had lost their last 11 straight extra time decisions.
The Rockets would start off with the best chance, holding on to the puck for more than a minute while setting up their overtime strategies. Their lone shot would be saved by Anders. The Rebels would secure the puck behind their net and Dawson Barteaux would send a perfect banking pass to Brandon Hagel. He and Kristian Reichel would go streaking into the Rockets end with no one to beat but Tisdale. Hagel would pass the puck at just the right moment and the Rebels would win their second straight game 3-2.
Ethan Anders spoke about his team after the win, “It was good, we played really hard for the whole 60. It was nice to come out with a win there.”
Rebel Yell… The Rebels were out shot in this game 43-22. Anders made 41 saves to pick up the first star selection, second star went to Josh Tarzwell with his short handed goal and the third star was Kole Lind, who sent the game to overtime with his 26th goal of the year. Austin Schellenberg and Alexander Alexeyev were the scratches. Kyle Topping was 17-of-23 in the faceoff circle for the Rockets while Kristian Reichel was 12-of-25 for the Rebels. Dillon Dube led all shooters with 9 shots on goal while Reese Johnson had 5 shots to lead the Rebels. Next action for the Rebels is today at 5pm against their division rivals the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Kelowna will make the trek back home and face the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday night.
DUBNetwork would like to send their condolences to the Alexeyev family, Alexander Alexeyev’s mother passed away suddenly earlier this week and he will be away for an undetermined amount of time to be with his family.
