Red Deer Rebels defeat Calgary Hitmen 5-2 [Video]

The Red Deer Rebels broke open a tight contest in the second period, scoring three straight goals that propelled them to a 5-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen Saturday night.

The Rebels opened the scoring early in the first, when Steven Steranka scored two minutes in. The Hitmen knotted the score when Reese Hamilton threaded the needle from the point on a power play.

In the second, Cohen Poulin, Ollie Josephson on a power play and Matteo Fabrizi, early in the third, increased the Rebel advantage to 4-1.

Hunter Aura scored his first WHL goal to cut the margin to 4-2, but Carson Birnie scored into an empty net to make it 5-2 Rebels.

Calgary outshot Red Deer on the night 33-21.

Rookie goaltender Eric Tu stopped 16 shots for the Hitmen in his first WHL start.

The game came a day after the Hitmen named Carson Wetsch as the 32^ndcaptain in team history. Four alternate captains …