Red Deer Rebels drop home opener to Edmonton Oil Kings
Published 8:14 pm Saturday, September 19, 2026
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Despite outshooting the Edmonton Oil Kings by 16 shots, the Red Deer Rebels dropped their home opener 3-1 at the Marchant Crane Centrium on Saturday, Sept. 19.
“We had a good first period. The second and third periods Edmonton pushed back and they were physical,” said Rebels head coach Brent Kisio.
“Our guys worked hard and they were around the net. … The chances are there, we’ve just got to bury them.”
Trailing by one in the 13:33 into the first period, Rebels forward Kalder Varga collected the puck from an offensive-zone faceoff win and ripped a shot past Oil Kings goaltender Elias Mitrikas to score Red Deer’s first goal on home ice this season.
“It was a great (faceoff) win by (Cameron) Kuzma. I was able to get a good pick by (Poul) Andersen on the weak-side winger. I was able to get some clear space and let it rip,” said Varga.
“But it wasn’t good enough. We had to do more and there was a lot more game after that. We’ve got to execute and work.”
Varga recently attended the Colorado Avalanche’s rookie camp, which ran Sept. 11-15. He suited up for the Avalanche during their Rookie Showcase in San Jose, scoring two goals in as many games.
“You’re playing guys who are 25 years old and 26 years old. They’re smart, they’re pros and they’re looking for jobs, not only a spot on the team,” said Varga.
“Seeing how professional they are, how they handle themselves, how they treat their bodies and how they go out there and work — it’s so much to learn from. You want to become one of those guys.”
The Geneva, Illinois native was traded to the Rebels last January. He put up 13 goals and 13 assists in 34 games with the Rebels following the trade. Listed at six-foot and 180 pounds, Varga said he’s excited to enter a full season as a Rebel.
“Starting with the group early in the year, we’re going to build some chemistry early on,” he said.
“Last year there were moments we were really good. We’re going to carry that and we’re going to try to be as consistent as possible. It’s going to be really exciting and we’re going to work hard.”
The Oil Kings went on to score early in the third period and then added an empty-net goal in the final minute.
The Rebels are now 0-1-1 to start the season. The team fell 3-2 in a shootout in the season opener, a road matchup against the Hitmen in Calgary on Friday, Sept. 18. Cameron Kuzma and Kohen Lodge had Red Deer’s goals in that game.
Red Deer was without captain Beckett Hamilton to start the season as he is at Colorado Avalanche’s main training camp.
The Rebels are next in action Friday, Sept. 25 in Lethbridge. Red Deer then returns home for a matchup against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday, Sept. 26. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. at the Marchant Crane Centrium.