With an abundance of time on my hands, it’s time to do a little deep diving on the history of the Red Deer Rebels.
1999
The Red Deer Rebels and Lethbridge Hurricanes squared off in the second-to-last game of the season for the Rebels. Lethbridge won 4-3 in a game that featured 22 power plays. Red Deer was 2-for-13, Lethbridge went 1-for-9. In total, there were 80 penalty minutes dished out. Red Deer’s goals were scored by Frantisek Mrazek, Shawn McNeil, and Lukas Bednarik.
2000
Once again the Hurricanes and Rebels squared off with the season winding down. Red Deer took this contest 5-2 after falling behind 2-0 just 2:34 into the game. Justin Mapletoft scored twice shorthanded and had the game-winner. This was another penalty-filled game as the teams totaled 92 minutes in the sin bin. Other Rebels goals were scored by Dustin Paul, Doug Lynch, and Lyle Steenbergen.
2007
The Rebels wanted this game back. Despite locking up a playoff spot for the season, the team did not show up for their final contest against the Hurricanes. Red Deer lost 11-1 as the Hurricanes Mitch Fadden and Zach Boychuk went off. Fadden scored five goals and added two assists. Not to be outdone, Boychuck had two goals and six assists. The Hurricanes had just 25 shots on goal to the 40 put up by the Rebels. Future NHLer Martin Hanzal had the lone Rebels goal.
2012
Red Deer found a new opponent for St. Patrick’s Day, this time it was the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Rebels missed the playoffs in the 2011-12 season and were playing their final game. Edmonton won this one 7-3, the game-winner was scored by Michael St. Croix. Red Deer had goals from Connor Bleackley, Alex Petrovic and Adam Kambeitz.
2016
The Rebels squared off with the Oil Kings in the second-to-last game of their Memorial Cup hosting season. Red Deer won 4-1 with goals from four different players. Adam Helewka, Colton Bobyk, Michael Spacek, and Braden Purtill each lit the lamp. Bobyk’s goal was the game-winner.
2018
In an awful season for the Central Division, the Rebels had already clinched a playoff spot before playing in the final game of their season. Red Deer was in Cranbrook taking on the then ICE. The Rebels lost 5-0, with Cameron Hausinger scoring twice against his former (and now current) team. Duncan McGovern was credited with the shutout, he only needed to make 19 saves.
2019
Again playing their final game of the season against the ICE, Red Deer lost 5-4 on a late goal from Michael Milne. It was the last game ever played in Cranbrook as the ICE moved to Winnipeg at the end of the 2018-19 season. Red Deer had two goals from Cameron Hausinger and a goal each from Brett Davis and Jordan Borysiuk. It was Borysiuk’s first-ever WHL goal.
