ONE WIN AWAY FROM THE FINAL
Rebels have opportunity at home
RED D EER Adam Musil is becoming the Red Deer Rebels version of Joel Ward.
The big Rebels centre has a knack for coming through in the clutch.
His goal with 5:05 remaining in regulation time sent Wednesday’s game to overtime, where the Rebels eliminated the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Earlier in the playoffs, he scored the Game 7 winner in the third period to send the Regina Pats packing.
Teammate Jake DeBrusk can see the comparison.
“I don’t think they’re necessarily similar in how they play,” DeBrusk said. “But for the clutchness factor, for sure.”
Musil was named third star — DeBrusk was first — when the Rebels dumped the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 5-2 in the round robin portion of the Memorial Cup.
They’ll need a similar effort — maybe even a better one — when the
We’re one win away from the final and that’s how we’re looking at it. This city is going to go nuts if we do it.
two clubs clash in Friday’s semifinal at the Centrium (6 p.m., Sportsnet West, 106.7 FM The Drive).
“I feel confident in my skills,” Musil said. “I’ve worked pretty hard over the last three weeks.
“If you play your game, you get rewarded.”
The Rebels were rewarded in each of the last two contests after opening the tournament with a 6-2 loss to the London Knights.
They overcame an early 2-0 deficit in their win over the Huskies.
DeBrusk and Co. won’t be caught off guard by the QMJHL champions.
“Probably the biggest thing was their speed,” DeBrusk said. “I noticed their speed right away. They’re a quick team and we have to make plays at a high pace.
“I like those games. It forces you to get into it or you’re going to get smoked. I thought we had a good effort from everybody and we’re looking for the same thing (on Friday).
“We’re one win away from the final and that’s how we’re looking at it. This city is going to go nuts if we do it.”
Bleackley, who set up Evan Polei’s sudden-death dagger on Wednesday, said the electric feeling in the Centrium is providing his squad with a little extra motivation.
“Walking around the rink, it’s pretty cool to see all the volunteers wishing us luck, said Bleackley. “There’s a little bit of a buzz. There always has been and it just keeps growing.”
The Rebels will need to keep a close eye on Huskies sniper Timo Meier, who has yet to be held off the scoresheet and is one goal off the tournament lead with five.
But Rebels bench boss Brent Sutter is more concerned with how his team will come out of the gates.
He was forced to use a timeout to turn the last game around.
“We know what they are as a team,” Sutter said. “Obviously they weren’t ranked where they were (No. 1 in the CHL) by not being an outstanding hockey team and winning their league.
“There are no easy games in this tournament. We except them to be at their best and expect ourselves to be our best.”