Fundamentals, playing the game the right way, taking less penalties, playing a full 60 minutes. These are all things we have heard from GM and Head Coach Brent Sutter over the last 41 days while the Rebels have struggled to put any points up on the board. The Rebels have earned just six of a possible 34 points in their last 17 games. Tonight though was something different, “That’s a top team in the league and I thought we played really well five on five,” Sutter said.
“You can’t fault our effort here, you can’t fault the way the kids the way how hard they played. I was pleased with the work ethic here tonight,” Sutter continued.
The Warriors came into Red Deer winners of three straight, and four points up on Swift Current for the league lead in points. The Rebels had a game plan heading in. “We said we wanted to keep the shots against down here tonight and I thought we did a really good job of that.”
The first period was tightly contested, the teams would exchange penalties and chances but neither team was able to get a puck past the starting netminders. Red Deer would outshoot Moose Jaw 8-6. The Warriors were missing Jett Woo from the back end, who has yet to return from an injury he sustained earlier this year and Brayden Burke who was suspended following last night’s contest with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Warriors scratches: Woo, Kwiatkowski, Wood, Burke (suspension). Klatt & DeRoose are ?
— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) December 9, 2017
The second period would see both teams turn on the jets a little bit. The pace was quicker and the play was developing more smoothly. Then Red Deer would take what might be considered a questionable hit from behind call. The fans in the rink didn’t like it but the Warriors did as they would capitalize just seven seconds in. A Josh Brook point shot would hit Rebels goalie Riley Lamb and bounce right to the open Brett Howden. Howden had blocked a Rebel shot on his previous shift and would make the game 1-0. Matthew Benson would also get an assist on the goal.
A few moments later, Austin Schellenberg would be sent in on a breakaway. He would cleanly beat Warriors goalie Brody Willms but not the crossbar. The shot seemed to really give Red Deer life though as they would have multiple scoring chances during the rest of the period.
Just when everyone thought the Rebels would escape being down by one after 40 minutes to the top team in the Western Hockey League, a bad line change mixed up the coverage of Brett Howden and Tanner Jeannot. Howden would get the puck to Jeannot who would have a wide open shot at Riley Lamb while he busted in on Lamb’s right. The blistering shot would hit the crossbar and the post and go in the net. The visitors would have a 2-0 lead heading down the tunnel for the end of the second period. The shots would be tied at 19 a piece.
The Rebels weren’t without their chances in the third period. Moose Jaw would take three penalties, giving the hosts a small shot at making a game of it. It wasn’t meant to be on this night as the Rebels power play would go zero-for-six and extend the power play drought to zero for their last 14. In the end it would be Moose Jaw adding an empty net goal from the WHL’s newest 30 goal man Jayden Halbegewachs. The final score would be Moose Jaw 3 Red Deer 0. Red Deer would outshoot Moose Jaw eight to six in the third period and 27-25 in the game.
Rebel Yell… The City of Red Deer announced that they would be hosting the annual Ivan Hlinka tournament. The tournament is the start of the NHL draft year for many of the players who participate. Thank you to RDNewsNow for the story. The three stars on the night were 1) Brody Willms 2) Brett Howden 3) Riley Lamb. The Rebels have been held scoreless since the second period of their game against Calgary on Decemeber 2nd. The total game time is 162:02. Reese Johnson was excellent in the faceoff department tonight going 20-of-27. Tate Popple was the best Warrior at 4-of-9. Team Canada WJC training camp invitee Brett Howden led all players with six shots. Grayson Pawlenchuk led the Rebels with four. Next action for the Moose Jaw Warriors is Sunday when they take on the Calgary Hitmen at the Saddledome, game time is 2PM. Red Deer meanwhile will host the Swift Current Broncos, game time is 7PM at the Enmax Centrium.
