Paul Anderson turned a close game into a four-goal performance, and the Red Deer Rebels pulled away from the Moose Jaw Warriors for a 5-2 win. The teams traded goals early and were level at 2-2 after the opening period, but Red Deer scored twice in the second before Anderson’s empty-net finish with 1:17 remaining.
How the Game Played Out
Red Deer struck first, with Kaden Mayers sneaking down from the left line to convert a feed from Anderson. The Rebels had the opening goal minutes into the first period, but Moose Jaw answered quickly: a Warriors captain danced in from the left circle and scored to make it 1-1. The transcript does not identify that scorer by name. Red Deer moved back in front when Anderson finished a rebound after Paxton McMillen sent the puck toward the net. Moose Jaw responded again, and Luke Marosz helped bring the game level at 2-2. The first period ended with both teams having found the net twice.
The second period marked the turning point. After a chance for Owen Dewitt was stopped by Jordan Switzer, Red Deer worked the puck across the zone: Hamilton sent a quick pass from the right circle to Anderson at the left side of the net, and Anderson scored on the power play. The transcript notes that it was Red Deer’s fourth power-play goal of the year. Later, Anderson scored again to complete his hat trick and give the Rebels their biggest lead to that point. Red Deer’s two goals in the period made it 4-2, while Switzer kept Moose Jaw within reach with a save on a dangerous chance from Dewitt.
The Warriors had an opportunity to make the finish tighter when Paxton McMillen found a loose puck near the net with Switzer down, but Red Deer goaltender Jordan Switzer made a remarkable stop and held on. That chance kept the Rebels in front as the game moved toward its closing stretch. With 1:17 remaining, Anderson scored his fourth of the night into the empty net. The goal completed the 5-2 result and capped a scoring line that included a power-play marker and the late empty-net finish.
What the Result Means
For Red Deer, the result came through a response each time Moose Jaw drew even, followed by a decisive two-goal second period. Anderson supplied the finishing touch on four goals, while Mayers opened the scoring and Hamilton set up the power-play strike. The Rebels also had to withstand a dangerous McMillen chance and a strong opportunity from Dewitt before they could put the game away.
Moose Jaw’s two first-period goals kept the contest level, and the Warriors continued to generate chances after falling behind. But they could not convert the loose-puck opportunity past Switzer, and Anderson’s late empty-net goal closed the scoring. The game record gives the final result but no standings details, so the significance here is the direct one: Red Deer left Moose Jaw with a 5-2 win after turning a tie game into a two-goal lead and protecting it through the finish. Both clubs now move forward from a game decided by Red Deer’s second-period surge and Anderson’s four-goal night.
Watch the Highlights
The WHL highlights show the opening-period exchange, Anderson’s power-play finish and hat trick, Switzer’s key stop on McMillen, and the late empty-net goal. Watch the full sequence in the video above.
Final Score: Red Deer Rebels 5, Moose Jaw Warriors 2.
Final Score: Moose Jaw Warriors 2, Red Deer Rebels 5.
Source: WHL highlights video transcript and Highlightly match data