Black and White game gives hopefuls a chance to shine before the preseason

The final test before the preseason begins for the Rebels came this morning with the Black and White intrasquad game at the Westerner Park Centrium.

23 forwards, 13 defenseman and four goalies suited up in the contest, with only 23 rosters spots available. There were six players from the 2004 age group who are ineligible to play more than five games before their respective teams complete their season.

“That’s one of the better Black and White games that we’ve had, basically (the game) was what the whole camp has been like,” said Rebels GM and head coach Brent Sutter.

“It’s been up tempo, it’s been lively, lots of energy through camp.

“Our veteran players all played well again today and our young kids were all good. That’s what makes it good, there’s not a big separation. Just the whole camp has been good and this game kind of sums up what camp’s been like.”

The teams played each other evenly through the first 60 minutes and the five minutes of three-on-three solved nothing. Following a shootout where nine players on each team had an opportunity to take a breakaway shot on net, Team Black took the come from behind victory 4-3.

Team White opened the scoring when Blake Sydlowski buried a centering pass from Keaton Sorensen, who was parked behind the net, midway through the first period. Cameron Hausinger replied for Team Black before the period expired, beating netminder Ethan Anders. Kyle Masters‘ shot eluded Anders and wound up on Hausinger’s stick.

Seven minutes into the second period White took a 2-1 lead on a goal from Rebels 2019 second round pick Hunter Mayo.

Chris Douglas made it 3-1 team white after a bouncing puck was corralled in front of Eric Ward.

Early in the third period Braden Fischer took the puck all alone on a 3-on-1 and made it count to scratch Team Black back to a one goal deficit.

With Eric Ward pulled for the extra attacker, Kyle Masters scored with 39.2 seconds on the clock to tie the game up at three. He was set up by Ethan Sakowich along the blueline.

Jordan Borysiuk’s shootout marker was the eventual winner as nine players a side took their chance in the skills competition.

Later in the day Sutter reassigned eight players as told to reddeerrebels.com — 16-year-olds Hunter Brown, Coward, Jeremy Hancock and Connor Poppenroth, 15-year-olds Lalonde, Declan Cosford and Jhett Larson, and Fischer, who turns 17 in October.

With the moves, the Rebels have 33 players on their roster and 20 will dress for Tuesday’s preseason opener versus the host Edmonton Oil Kings.