DEME’S HAT TRICK LEADS REPS TO WIN OVER REBELS

LÉVIS, QUE. – The Mississauga Reps could have used the early start time as an excuse.

The Reps dropped a 4-1 decision to the Lévis Commandeurs on Monday night and had the early wakeup call on Tuesday morning for a game against the Red Deer Optimist Rebels at the 2010 TELUS Cup. But the Reps were strong right out of the gates on Tuesday, with Wes Deme (Mississauga, Ont.) scoring one minute 27 seconds into the game. Deme would add an early goal in the second and a late one in the third to lead the Reps to a 5-2 win over the Rebels.

Mississauga improved to 1-1 in its first trip to the National Midget Championship, while Red Deer, competing in its eighth national title, fell to 0-1-1.

Red Deer got a goal from Jarett Zentner (Red Deer, Alta.) at the 8:28 mark of the first and the game was tied 1-1 after the first 20 minutes. After Deme got his second to make it 2-1 for the Reps, Kevin Pietrobon (Mississauga, Ont.) scored later in the second period to give Mississauga a two-goal lead going into the third.

Jake Crow’s (Toronto, Ont.) goal in the third period prompted a goaltender change for the Rebels. Travis Weber (Red Deer, Alta.) came into the game for his first minutes of the 2010 TELUS Cup. Deme would later complete the hat trick and Red Deer concluded the scoring at the 17-minute mark of the third when Sam Jardine (Lacombe, Alta.) found the back of the net.

Santo Provenzano (Toronto, Ont.) was in the Mississauga net for the win.