RED DEER, AB – With Nelson Nogier and Conner Bleackley back from their NHL training camp stints, sought their third straight win to open the year.

FIRST PERIOD

It took just 94 seconds for the Rebels to open the scoring in this game. Grayson Pawlenchuk powered his way from the corner to the slot before snapping one past Broncos goalie Landon Bow for a 1-0 lead.

Red Deer went up 2-0 at 9:15 when Ivan Nikolishin, quarterbacking the 5-on-3 powerplay, fired home a high wrister for his second goal on the year. Michael Spacek and Colton Bobyk picked up the assists.

Jake DeBrusk, in his first game with the Broncos since returning from the Boston Bruins, scored a hard-working shorthanded goal 59 seconds later to make it a 2-1 game.

The home side restored its two goal lead at 14:03 when Bleackley won a battle for a rebound and beat Bow for his first of the year. Bobyk picked up the lone assist on the 3-1 Rebels goal.

SECOND PERIOD

The Michael Spacek point parade continued early in the middle frame when the Winnipeg Jets prospect deked out two defenders and fired a shot past Bow for his fourth goal of the year. Nikolishin and Presten Kopeck set up the 4-1 Rebels powerplay goal at the 2:42 mark.

THIRD PERIOD

The Rebels surged ahead 5-1 9:09 into the final frame when Kopeck made a great pass out front to Nikolishin who scored his second goal of the night and third of the season.

BOOSTER JUICE THREE STARS

1. Ivan Nikolishin RD

2. Michael Spacek RD

3. Colton Bobyk RD

HARDEST WORKING REBEL – Conner Bleackley

NOTES – Josh Mahura missed the game with a lower body injury… other Rebel scratches for the game were Haydn Fleury (NHL), and Reece Johnson… the Broncos did not have a powerplay in the game… Red Deer native Scott Feser made his return to the Enmax Centrium after being traded from the Rebels to the Broncos in the off-season… attendance for the game was 5101

NEXT GAME – The Rebels entertain the reigning WHL Champions, the Kelowna Rockets, tomorrow night at the Enmax Centrium. Game time is 7 p.m. with tickets available through Ticketmaster.

Story by Troy Gillard