The Red Deer Rebels were in determination mode during their practice at the Collicutt Centre this morning after a disappointing defeat at the hands of the London Knights on Friday.

The Rebels will be looking to bounce back on Sunday when they take on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

“We were pretty disappointed with how the game went yesterday, I’m not going to lie. It was pretty frustrating out there, just personally. But it’s a tournament. You’ve got to take it game by game,” said Rebels’ forward Jake DeBrusk after the Rebels’ morning skate.

DeBrusk and the Rebels will be looking to bounce back from the 6-2 thumping they received courtesy of London’s top line of Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuck and Christian Dvorak when they take on the QMJHL champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

“We’re looking at it as if it’s game two and it’s a must win. It’s a must win and it’s a statement game for us. We have to come back. We kind of got popped at home. We want to give these fans something to cheer about. It’s going to be a big game, that’s for sure,” DeBrusk said of the impending showdown with the Huskies.

According to Rebels’ Head Coach/GM Brent Sutter, he said the way forward for his team should be clear.

“We obviously have to be better. Better in individual play. If our individual play is better than our team play will be better. We had a lot of guys last night that didn’t have their game – not the way their capable and not where we need them playing,” he said, adding that discipline will play an important role for the Rebels in the coming games.

“You can’t take bad penalties in this tournament. There was two or three last night that we just can’t take. Teams are too good and they make you pay a price and they certainly did with us last night.”

The Rebels are back in action on Sunday night against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Puck drop is at 5 p.m.

zcormier@reddeerexpress.com