DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: Rebels @ Hurricanes 7 PM MST
The Red Deer Rebels will travel to Lethbridge to take on the Hurricanes for the third time this season, in a season series where each team has won a game each. The last meeting came on January 2nd, when the shootout was needed to deem the Rebels as winners.
The Red Deer Rebels (25-13-2-1) have turned things around now having won three games in a row, after having a tough stretch after Christmas. Although Red Deer has faced some easier competition over their current win streak, tonight should be a good test to see where the Rebels stand in the Central Division. The Rebels sit one point back of the ‘Canes for 2nd place in the division, luckily Red Deer has two games in hand.
Rebels overage forward Brandon Hagel is just coming off the first five-point game of his career against the Regina Pats where he scored a natural hat-trick and added two assists for good measure. Hagel is now carrying an eight-game point streak, counting him into tonight’s game with 66 points in 40 games played this season good to be the Rebels leading scorer, and fifth in the WHL in points.
The Lethbridge Hurricanes (23-12-4-4) are keeping afloat in the Central Division with nearby Red Deer nipping at their heels in the standings. The ‘Canes are 5-3-0-2 in their last ten games. Last game out they fell victim to the Edmonton Oil Kings by a 4-1 score on Sunday.
Jake Leschyshyn has been especially quiet lately being held pointless in his last three games. If the ‘Cane Train wants to keep rolling, big guns like Leschyshyn are going to have to be contributing on a nightly basis. Don’t kid yourself though, even without the likes of Jake, the Hurricanes have another Jake who has been having quite the season, maybe overshadowed by draft eligible Dylan Cozens. Jake Elmer has 44 points in 43 games played this season, career high numbers for a guy who is playing his last season in the Western Hockey League.
Who to watch:
- (RD) Jeff de Wit – 22 goals far and away his best mark over a season, scored and added an assist in his last game.
- (LET) Jordy Bellerive – third in team scoring, the captain is looking to get back on track following an 11-game point streak that ended on January 9th, he has just a goal and an assist in the three games since.
Starting ‘Tenders:
- Ethan Anders (RD) 3.159 GAA, .908 SV%- 2019 has not been kind to Anders thus far, averaging an .858 SV% over his three starts in January.
- Liam Hughes (LET) 3.680 GAA, .898 SV%- Has allowed four goals in back-to-back starts, comes in with two wins and two losses in a Hurricane jersey.
Other Games:
Kootenay Ice (10-29-6-1) @ Brandon Wheat Kings (17-18-3-3)
- Kootenay has won two games in a row, looking to extend it for their first three game winning streak of the season. Kootenay beat Brandon 4-3 in their last and only other meeting of the season.
Regina Pats (12-31-1-1) @ Saskatoon Blades (26-13-6-0)
- The season series stands at one game a piece coming into this one, last game was a OT win for the Blades.
Medicine Hat Tigers (24-16-2-2) @ Swift Current Broncos (9-31-2-1)
- Medicine Hat blanked the Broncos in their only meeting of the season so far 2-0 back on November 17th.
Prince Albert Raiders (38-5-0-1) @ Kamloops Blazers (15-23-2-1)
- Prince Albert continues their western road swing with game two, Kamloops is ice cold trying to end a five-game losing streak.
Vancouver Giants (27-12-2-0) @ Spokane Chiefs (24-13-2-2)
- Brayden Watts had the shootout winner for Vancouver in their lone meeting with the Chiefs this season back on September 30th.
Seattle Thunderbirds (15-21-4-0) @ Tri-City Americans (21-16-2-1)
- Tri-City has lost four of their last five, Seattle has won their last three, season series is tied at two going into their fifth meeting.
Moose Jaw Warriors (23-11-5-2) @ Victoria Royals (22-17-1-0)
- Moose Jaw has scored ten goals in their previous two games, leading them into a multi-game winning streak heading into tonight.
