Rebels rout Royals 9-4 as rookie Banicevic scores first WHL hat trick
Red Deer extended its winning streak to five games and climbed to the top of the WHL's Eastern Conference standings.
The Red Deer Rebels defeated the Victoria Royals 9-4 at the Centrium on Friday night, led by 18-year-old rookie forward Jake Banicevic, who scored his first career WHL goal and completed his first hat trick in the same game. Banicevic opened the scoring just 1:26 into the game and added a second goal minutes later before closing out the win with an empty-net marker in the third period.
Banicevic signed with the Rebels eight days before the game after playing six games with the AJHL's Whitecourt Wolverines. Red Deer jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first period with goals from Cole Temple, Jake Missura and captain Beckett Hamilton, who finished the night with two goals.
Victoria chipped away with goals from Ludovic Perreault, Filip Novak, Nolan Stewart and Cameron Schmidt, but could not keep pace. Grayden Peterson and Noah Chadi also scored for Red Deer, with Chadi's goal coming with four seconds remaining. Goaltender Matthew Kondro made 32 saves for the Rebels, who were outshot 36-31 but went four-for-four on the penalty kill and 1-for-3 on the power play.
Head coach Brent Kisio praised his team's response after Victoria pushed back in the second period. With the win, Red Deer improved to 7-2-0-1 and moved into first place in the WHL's Eastern Conference.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.