The Castlegar Rebels winning streak came to end on Friday night when they made the trip to Creston to take part in their final match with the Thunder Cats this season. Nearly 500 fans showed up to witness the anticipated match, with Rebels Head Coach/Gm Bill Rotheisler, Logan Styler, Justin Podgorenko, Daneel Lategan, Kirkland Spencer, Nico Sidoni, and netminder Jason Mailhiot all have spent time with the Thunder Cats earlier this season or last season. The two earlier games this season between these two teams were split one a piece, so this would serve as a tie-breaker for the season series. Creston would strike first 12 minutes into the 1st period, but less then a minute later Andrew Petten would tie it up for the Rebels, scoring his first of the season after beating the Creston defender wide and ripping a shot into the back of the net. That would do it for the first frame, but Creston’s power play would strike early in the 2nd period and they would add another goal with a minute left in the 2nd to make it 3-1 for the Thunder Cats after 40 minutes. The Rebels could not find a way to beat Cats’ netminder Brock Lefebvre, and Creston scored another goal in the 3rd to make the final score 4-1 for Creston, and halting the Rebels win streak at 9. Final shots were 40-27 for the Thunder Cats.
On Saturday night, the Grand Forks Border Bruins would make their second trip to Castlegar to take on the Rebels, after besting the Rebels 6-4 in September. This one would prove to be a high goal output for the Rebels, with Ed Lindsey scoring off a beautiful pass from Logan Styler 3:50 into the 1st. To end the period off the Rebels were shorthanded, but Nico Sidoni intercepted a cross ice pass to go down and score with 7 seconds left in the 1st to make it 2-0 Rebels after 20 minutes of play. Not even 4 minutes into the 2nd period, and the Rebels power play struck as Brad Newans would get his first goal as a Rebel. Border Bruins captain Chad Grambo would put them on the board half way through the period, making it 3-1. But the Rebels would add 2 more before the end of the 2nd courtesy of Austen McKean and Everett Hicks, putting it to 5-1 after 2 periods of play. In the 3rd, Logan Styler added the Rebels second Power Play goal of the night and then Daneel Lategan got the 7th goal for the Rebels which would prove to be the last goal of the game, making the final score 7-1 for the Rebels who got back into the win column. Vince Bitonti and Chance Szott each had 3 assists in the game. Curt Doyle stopped 25 of 26 shots, earning 1st star in the game.Thank you to all the fans that came out to support the Rebels in their huge win!
Stay connected to the Rebels online by following @RebelsCastlegar on twitter and by liking the Castlegar Rebels page and the Castlegar Rebels Fan Club on facebook.
The Rebels have two home games this week, Friday @ 7:00 vs. Nelson and Saturday @ 7:00 vs. Fernie. Come support the team at the Castlegar Complex, as these are the last two home games before the Christmas break!
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chance Szott
Chance has been on a roll over his last 8 games tallying 11 points. He is also a strong special teams player, featuring on the Rebels PK and PP.
WIN GAME TICKETS HERE! TRIVIA!
One of the strongest points of the Rebels game this season has been their penalty kill which is clicking at 88.4%, good for 3rd in the KIJHL. On Saturday night, Nico Sidoni scored the Rebels second shorthanded goal of the season. Who Scored their first?
- #11 Jesse Reeds
- #25 Everett Hicks
- #22 Andrew Petten
- #4 Daneel Lategan
Email the correct answer to rebelsweekly1516@gmail.com.The first three right answers will receive two free Rebels game tickets!!
