DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: October 25, 2019 Seattle Thunderbirds 3-4-2-1 @
Red Deer Rebels 4-7-0-1 7:00PM (MDT)
The Red Deer Rebels host the Seattle Thunderbirds in tonight’s feature game. The T-birds are on a three-game win streak against Red Deer with the Rebels last win over Seattle coming on 11/3/15.
Coming off a 3-1 win over the Prince Albert Raiders, the Thunderbirds begin a five game road trip that will see them play three Central Division teams to start the trip, before heading back down to the States to play division rivals. Seattle, who has won the previous two meetings with the Rebels, ended a four game losing streak with their win over the Raiders.
The win was thanks in large part to the play of goalie Roddy Ross, who stopped 24-of-25 shots in the
victory.
Red Deer is currently in a losing streak of their own. Losing the last five games, the Rebels haven’t won a game since October 5th versus the Medicine Hat Tigers. Forward Chris Douglas scored the winning goal just 38 seconds into overtime. Though these two teams might not know a lot about each other on the ice, off the ice is a different story.
The two teams have made three trades with each other since August 26th.
Three weeks ago, the Rebels acquired 16-year-old prospect Noah Barlage and a conditional seventh round selection in the 2022 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft in exchange for 18-year-old defenceman Ryan Gottfried. Seattle also acquired defenseman Hunter Donohoe and forward Alex Morozoff in two different trades for a fifth round pick in 2021, a seventh round pick in 2020 and the rights to prospect Louden Hogg.
Seattle, who won the Western Hockey League title in 2017, has struggled out of the gate. However one of the players that is off to a fast start is Andrej Kukuca. The second year import from Trencin, Slovakia has started his year at a point-per-game pace. Putting up 10 points, including four goals, in Seattle’s 10 games played so far, the overage forward leading the Thunderbirds in scoring. In 59 games last season, Kukuca scored 25 goals while adding 32 assists for 57 points in his rookie season in the WHL.
Fellow import Simon Kubicek from Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Republic is also off to a hot start on the back end. With eight points in the first 10 games Kubicek is the leading point producer among the Thunderbirds
defence. Selected in the second round of the Import draft in 2018, Kubicek had 28 points last season. Kubicek and fellow defenceman Tyrel Bauer, have been listed by NHL Central Scouting in the preliminary players to watch list for the 2020 NHL Draft.
Florida Panthers seventh round pick from the 2019 NHL Draft, Matthew Wedman led the team in scoring last year with 77 points. This season, the Thunderbirds captain has scored three times and also has three assists in eight games. Wedman missed Seattle’s first two games as he was attending Panthers training camp. Three Thunderbirds have been selected to represent Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Center Kai Uchacz, left wing Conner Roulette, and goalie Thomas Milic have been selected to play for Team Canada.
Red Deer is off to a slow start this season. Winning only one game in seven opportunities at
home, the Westerner Park Centrium has not been a friendly place for the home team. The
Rebels’ only victory at home this season came back at the beginning of the month, October 1st,
a 2-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades.
This year’s Rebels team has been led by overage center Brett Davis. Selected by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL draft, Davis has put up 10 points in 12 games so far for Red Deer. Last season, Davis split his year between the Kootenay Ice and the Rebels. He put up 20 goals and 50 points combined between the two teams. The Stars neglected to sign Davis this past spring, making the 20-year-old a free agent.
Helping Davis up front has been the play of fourth year forward Chris Douglas. Douglas who has gone undrafted in the past two NHL Drafts, has eight points in the team’s first 12 games. Douglas didn’t miss a game last season for Red Deer and had 32 points in those games.
Dawson Barteaux, the Rebels captain, is back for his third full season on defence for the team. Returning from his second Dallas Stars training camp, since being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 entry draft, Barteaux has already put up eight points in 12 games. Last year Barteaux skated in all but one game for the Rebels, producing a career high in goals with 7 and points with 34. Rebels rookies Kyle Masters and Jayden Grubbe have been selected to play for Team Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
• Roddy Ross (Seattle) – Ross, the Philadelphia Flyers sixth round pick from the 2019 NHL
draft, is currently in his second season with the Thunderbirds. Ross played 25 games in his
rookie season last year winning 16 of them. He also posted a 2.76 GAA and a .919 SAV%.
last season. So far this season Ross has appeared in nine games, winning three while
posting a 3.00GAA and a .914SAV%
• Ethan Anders (Red Deer) – Anders is in his third season in the WHL, all with the Rebels.
Last year he appeared in 57 games, posting a career high in wins with 28 helping the
Rebels reach the playoffs. This season in 10 appearances, Anders has four wins and a
3.78GAA and a .896SAV%.
Also in action:
Medicine Hat Tigers @Edmonton Oil Kings 7 pm MDT
-It’s early in the season but these two are starting to make the case as Central Division title contenders. Edmonton has not lost in regulation in eight straight games.
Brandon Wheat Kings @Lethbridge Hurricanes 7 pm MDT
-This is the sixth of a seven-game road trip for the Wheat Kings. They get the Hurricanes who have won five straight.
Calgary Hitmen @Moose Jaw Warriors 7 pm MDT
-The Warriors, losers of five straight, take on Egor Zamula and the Hitmen. Zamula has 13 points, with six coming on the power play.
Winnipeg ICE @Saskatoon Blades 7 pm MDT
-Two teams going different ways currently with the Blades riding a three-game losing streak and a ICE ona three-game winning streak.
Portland Winterhawks @Spokane Chiefs 7:05 pm PDT
-These two division rivals always seem to put on a show. Adam Beckman is on fire for Spokane coming off a five point night and second in the league in scoring with 19 points.
Prince Albert Raiders @Tri-City Americans 7:05 pm PDT
-The road trip continues for the Raiders as they try to get their first win against the U.S. Division. They get the Americans, who are reeling after a 10-2 home loss to Brandon on Tuesday.
Kamloops Blazers @Victoria Royals 7:05 pm PDT
–Connor Zary has a 12-game point streak going. He has yet to be held off the stat sheet this season for the Blazers.
Everett Silvertips @Vancouver Giants 7:30 pm PDT
-If this one is close, look for Michal Gut to provide the heroics if Everett pulls it out. All three of Gut’s goals in the WHL are game winners.
