Canes toppled by Rebels in Red Deer

By Lethbridge Herald on October 23, 2021.

An early deficit proved to be too much for the Lethbridge Hurricanes to crawl out of.

The Canes were doubled 6-3 by the Red Deer Rebels in Western Hockey League play Friday night in Red Deer.

The Rebels jumped out to a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes and added two more in the second, more than enough offence to drop the Hurricanes to 3-3-0-0, while the Rebels improve to 5-3-1-0, tied with the Edmonton Oil Kings (5-2-0-1) for first in the Central Division.

Hurricanes forward Chase Wheatcroft got Lethbridge on the board one minute after puck drop Friday night, but unanswered goals from Liam Keeler, Jayden Grubbe, Ethan Rowland and Kyle Masters gave the hosts a 4-1 lead after the first period.

Hurricanes defenceman Alex Cotton scored his first of two on the night 57 seconds in to the second to halve the Rebels lead, but Kalan Lind and Ben King restored Red Deer’s four-goal cushion by the midway point of the second.

Hurricanes starting goaltender Bryan Thomson, who has started every game this season, was pulled after Lind’s goal to make it 5-2 in favour of backup Jared Picklyk.

Cotton added his second of the game and fourth of the season midway through the third to round out the scoring.

Grubbe and Keeler each added an assist for a two-point night, while Dallon Melin added two helpers for the Rebels.

The Rebels outshot the Hurricanes 42-21. Red Deer was 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Canes were 2-for-5.

Thomson stopped 16 of 21 shots and Picklyk kicked out 20 of 21.

Rebels goaltender Connor Ungar put in an 18-save performance.

The Hurricanes are back at the Enmax Centre tonight at 7 p.m. when the Prince Albert Raiders come to town.

The 2-6-0-0 Raiders lost 6-2 to the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday night in Medicine Hat.

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