Rebels snap three-game skid with 6-4 win over Saskatoon
Rookie Paxson Madill scored his first WHL goal and added two assists as Red Deer held off a late Saskatoon push at the Centrium.
The Red Deer Rebels ended a three-game losing streak on Tuesday night, defeating the Saskatoon Blades 6-4 in front of 2,584 fans at the Centrium. Rookie forward Paxson Madill led the team with three points, including his first Western Hockey League goal, while Poul Andersen added a goal and an assist. Goaltender Matthew Kondro made 27 saves on 31 shots.
Both teams were scoreless through the first period before Saskatoon's Hayden Harsanyi opened the scoring in the second. Red Deer's Cole Temple tied it on the power play, Madill then scored his first WHL goal to put the Rebels ahead, and Saskatoon's Hunter Laing quickly tied it again. Captain Beckett Hamilton restored the lead with 2.7 seconds left in the period.
In the third, rookie Cash Arcand-Vandale scored his first career goal on a penalty shot after being hooked on a breakaway. Andersen added his 12th goal of the season off a Madill pass before Saskatoon scored twice late to close the gap.
Head coach Brent Kisio praised the team's effort coming out of its slump, noting Madill's energy earned him a promotion to the top line alongside Andersen and Hamilton despite starting the game on the fourth line.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.