Red Deer Rebels wrap up preseason with 4-2 victory over Edmonton Oil Kings
Published 9:48 am Saturday, September 12, 2026
The Red Deer Rebels will head into the Western Hockey League regular season with momentum after winning their final two preseason games.
The Rebels wrapped up preseason action with a 2-1-1 record after defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-2 at the Marchant Crane Centrium on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Paxson Madill opened the scoring for Red Deer 15:28 into the opening period, with Jake Missura grabbing the lone assist. Luc Trevors doubled Red Deer’s lead 5:45 into the second period with an unassisted tally.
Edmonton’s Josh Lee cut the Rebels’ lead in half with an unassisted goal 50 seconds into the third period. But Rebels defenceman Graeme Pickering answered back with a power play about three minutes later. Madill and Cameron Kuzma collected the assists on Pickering’s first of the preseason.
Jensen March brought the Oil Kings back within one just a minute later, but that’s as close at his team got. Rebels goalie Matthew Kondro shut the door the rest of the way, finishing the game with 23 saves on 25 shots.
Patrick Sopiarz added an empty-net goal to clinch the win for the Rebels with about a minute remaining in regulation.
This victory came one night after the Rebels defeated the Hurricanes 4-1 in Lethbridge. Red Deer got goals from Nolan Schmidt, Poul Andersen, Sopiarz and Kuzma. Rebels goaltenders Peyton Shore and Nathan Salisbury split time in net. Shore stopped all 10 shots he faced, while Salisbury stopped seven of eight.
The Rebels open the regular season with a road matchup against the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, Sept. 18. The game will be streamed live on YouTube.
Red Deer then hosts the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Red Deer Advocate Home Opener on Saturday, Sept. 19, with pick drop set for 6 p.m.