New Digs: Game Day #16

The Rebels travel to Medicine Hat to take on the Tigers at the "New" Canalta Centre

Red Deer Rebels (10-5-0-0) 20 points AT Medicine Hat Tigers (5-6-1-0) 11 points

Red Deer suffered a loss to the Spokane Chiefs at home on Friday night. Spokane got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period, Rylan Toth was puled for the 3rd time in 6 games and Red Deer was able to shut the door for the rest of the game, unfortunately they could only sneak 1 goal past Tyler Verhelst and the team lost its first game on home ice this season 3-1. The Rebels remain in a tie for first place in the Central Division with the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

In the only other game between the two teams this season, the Rebels skated to a 3-1 home ice victory. Preston Kopeck scored the game winning goal against the team from his home town and Rylan Toth had a shut out going until 3:19 left in the 3rd period. Ty Stanton had the only goal for the Tigers. Red Deer went 1 for 2 on the power play while the penalty kill was successful on all 4 opportunities.  Last season Red Deer was 2-3-1-0 against the Tigers, and also 1-4-0-0 in the playoffs.

Red Deer is 3-4-0-0 on the road this season while Medicine Hat is 4-3-0-0 in the new arena.

David Quenneville - MedicineHatTigers.com

Tonight could see the return of David Quenneville and Cole Sanford, both whom have been out with injuries. Quenneville was last in action on October 24th while Sanford has been out since October 17th. Sanford had 12 points (4G, 8A) in his 9 games before his injury. The Tigers will have Clayton Kirichenko, whom they acquired from the Vancouver Giants this week in their lineup as well.

Red Deer remains without Josh Mahura, it appears his injury is severe enough to keep him out of the line up for the duration of the regular season. Jeff de Wit and Evan Polei both made their returns to the Rebels line up on Friday following minor injuries that took them out of games last week.

This Medicine Hat team is not one to be overlooked. They have recently added Austin Lotz in goal to help shore up a team that is allowing 3.92 goals per game. Red Deer did have an opportunity to play against Lotz as a Tiger and got 3 pucks past him.

The Tigers high powered offense is lead by Steven Owre, he has 6 goals and 10 assists in 12 games to lead the team.  Rookie Max Gerlach has already put up 5 goals and 4 assists in his first 12 games of the season, which places him 8th among all rookies in the WHL this season. The Tigers score an average of 3.58 goals per game this year. They also shoot the puck a ton, 35.25 shots per game, good for 2nd in the WHL.

Brandon Hagel - RedDeerRebels.com

Red Deer will counter with their own high powered offense, both Michael Spacek and Ivan Nikolisihin are in the top 11 scorers. Nikolishin leads the way with 10 goals and 12 assists and Spacek, considered a rookie at 18 in the WHL as its his first season, has popped 7 goals in the net and added 14 assists. Another rookie playing well is Brandon Hagel who has 10 points (2G, 8A) after being picked up just as the season got underway.

Tonight's game has a 6PM start at the Canalta Centre in Medicine Hat, AB. Cam Moon will be live on 106.7 the drive at 5:50.