One big chill for Kootenay
By GREG MEACHEM
Advocate staff

Rebels 7 Ice 2

All week long, Red Deer Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter worried that his team might not be ready for Friday's WHL showdown with the Kootenay Ice.

After all, the Rebels were well-rested and gearing up for their first home game in three weeks since coming off a rigorous but successful five-game road trip.

To top it all off, the Ice were not only the top-ranked team in the nation, they were also seeking revenge for their lone regulation-time loss of the season, 4-3 to the Rebels Sept. 24 at the Centrium.

Sutter was worried that his troops may have settled into a comfort zone and would perhaps come out flat against the defending league champions.

His fears were all for naught, as the Rebels, listed No. 4 in the country, routed the highly-touted Ice 7-2 before an overflow crowd of 6,250 and tossed a monkey wrench into the CHL rankings.

"I thought we played well right from the opening faceoff. We just kind of carried on from the way we finished up in Prince Albert," said Sutter, in reference to the Rebels’ 5-4 overtime win over P.A. that included three unanswered third-period markers.

"We were strong defensively tonight and we made the most of our opportunities. We created offence with our speed, and all in all I thought we played a hell of a hockey game."

The Rebels snapped a scoreless tie 15:32 into the contest when Justin Mapletoft intercepted a pass at the Red Deer blueline, broke in alone on netminder Dan Blackburn and scored with the home team two men short.

The goal provided the Rebels with a permanent lead.

"I'd have to say that was the turning point in the game, and it came against the best power play in the league," said Rebels forward Kyle Wanvig, who scored once.

"Justin's goal was just so big, We just felt the confidence from there. We outshot them and outworked them and every one of our lines outplayed the line they played against."

What was particularly impressive was the manner in which the Rebels owned their guests in the third period, outshooting the Ice 18-4 while netting four unanswered goals.

"Brent always says just take it a period at a time, and that if we play our game the other team will break," said Wanvig. "We just wanted to play solid in the third period. They took penalties and we scored on the power play. Bang, the game's over."

There were no secrets to Friday’s success, Sutter insisted.

"We're a team that has to work hard, and when we play with intensity and emotion, good things happen for us," he said. "Right through our entire lineup, everyone played well tonight."

Mapletoft tallied three times, with the Rebels also getting goals from Colby Armstrong, Ross Lupaschuk, Wanvig and Donovan Rattray.

Zdenek Blatny potted both Ice goals, with league-leading scorer Mike Comrie assisting on both.

Otherwise, Comrie, the WHL's hottest player, was held in check.

Michael Garnett was solid while facing only 18 shots in the Rebels net, while Ice netminders Dan Blackburn and Lyle Harvey combined to make 31 saves.

"On both Kootenay goals we had the puck in our own end and turned it over, and you can't blame Garney for that," said Sutter, who nevertheless will likely start veteran Shane Bendera tonight when the Rebels meet the Tigers in Medicine Hat.

The outcome not only lifted the Rebels to within three points of the front-running Ice — who have played three more games — in the Central Division, it send a clear message to the rest of the league.

Sutter, however, preferred to downplay the significance of the win.

"The message that was sent was we're a good team," he said. "I don't know if we're five goals better than the Kootenay Ice. I'm not saying that. They've got a hell of a team and they're ranked No. 1 in the nation for a reason.

"We have to be prepared every time we play them or what happened to them tonight will happen to us next time."

Not surprisingly, Ice head coach Ryan McGill had nothing positive to say following the contest.

"We got outworked in every area. No 1., it boils down to commitment, No. 2, it boils down to everyone falling in line after the Comrie line," he said.

"We can't have Mike doing it for us every night and until our veterans fall into place and learn that, we're not going to do anything."