Rebels let down after big win
By GREG MEACHEM
Advocate staff

Tigers 4 Rebels 1

The Red Deer Rebels generated plenty of offence Saturday night at Medicine Hat, but shirked their defensive responsibilities.

Accordingly, they dropped a 4-1 Western Hockey League decision to the Tigers before 3,359 fans at the Arena and also lost winger Donovan Rattray for an extended period.

"We had 40-some shots (43) and some great scoring chances, but we couldn't bury them," Rebels GM/head coach Brent Sutter said Sunday.

Kyle Kettles was outstanding in the Tigers net, but Sutter said his team simply didn't deserve a better fate.

"We weren't as focused as we should have been," said the Rebels boss, conceding that his troops may have experienced an emotional meltdown after their huge 7-2 win over the Kootenay Ice Friday night.

"We tried to play run-and-gun with them (Tigers) and we're not that kind of team. We have to play strong defensively and then create offence from that. Medicine Hat had 32 shots and that’s too many."

The Tigers led 3-1 after one period on power-play goals from Chris St. Jacques, Ken Davis and Ben Thomson. Justin Mapletoft, with an assist from Colby Armstrong, tallied for Red Deer.

Vernon Fiddler added a short-handed marker for the Tigers at 12:11 of the second period, setting up a scoreless final frame.

"All four of their goals were by special teams and that just shows a lack of preparation on our part," said Sutter. "When you're playing back on your heels like we were in the first period, you’re going to take some bad penalties."

The loss was just the second of the season for the Rebels, who racked up their ninth win in Friday's rout of the Ice, the top-ranked team in the country.

"The important thing is that the kids learn something from a loss," said Sutter. "A lot of these guys have never been in this situation before, where teams are gunning for them.

"They have to realize that they have to be prepared every game, because when you're one of the top teams in the league every other team is going to be coming after you."

Meanwhile, Rattray will be out of commission for four to six weeks after suffering a grade three concussion on a brutal hit by former Rebel Steve MacIntyre, who received a match penalty for the incident.

"That was maybe MacIntyre's fourth shift of the night," said Sutter.

"There's a little over two minutes left in a 4-1 game and he's out there. We'll be talking to the league about that."

MacIntyre, a six-foot-six, 235-pound forward with limited skills, will likely draw a suspension.

Rattray spent the night in a Medicine Hat hospital and was driven back to Red Deer Sunday by Rebels off-ice official Barclay White.

The incident sparked a line brawl that involved Kettles and Red Deer netminder Shane Bendera, who both received game misconducts. Ben McMullin replaced Kettles and Michael Garnett finished up for the Rebels.

The loss of Rattray leaves the Rebels with 11 forwards for Wednesday's contest with the visiting Swift Current Broncos.

Centre Diarmuid Kelly, who's been out of action since mid-September with a concussion, is expected to be ready for Saturday's home game against the Prince Albert Raiders, while winger Shay Stephenson (wrist) will return in about three weeks.