The Castlegar Rebels defeated the Spokane Braves at the Castlegar Complex on Friday night, dominating them 7-2.
The home team came out strong at the outset, with Everett Hicks scoring the first goal of the game assisted by Andrew Petten and John Moeller toward the middle of the first period. Chris Breese then scored the first goal in what would turn out to be a hat trick while the Rebels were on a power play late in the period.
The Braves’ Paxton Malone got his team in the game early in the second with a goal assisted by Trail Thompson, but the Rebels responded with two more goals. The first scored by Jordan Wood and assisted by Evan Della Paolera, and the second scored on a short-handed breakaway by Breese, assisted by Aiden (Bo) Cornell and Paolera.
Rebels defenceman Chase Daniels also scored a shorthanded goal over halfway through the third period, putting the Rebels four points in the lead.
Spokane’s Kyle Donaldson responded soon after, assisted by Ian McIntosh and Campbell Jackson, but the Braves still trailed by three and then Breese completed his hat trick and Scott Rademaker scored a final goal for the Rebels.
With only 3:34 left on the clock, the Braves kept fighting, but the Rebels had clinched it.
Going into Friday night’s game the Rebels were 2-0 against the Braves, and much like last season, so far the Braves have spent this year at the bottom of the Neil Murdoch Division — but Rebels coach and general manager Bill Rotheisler said its important to treat them with respect.
“There are some good players on that team. I mean you look at Paxton Malone, [he] led the KI[JHL] for most of last year and he’s a good fast player. And we like to look at a record and just typecast the team, but if you give them something, they’re going to get wins,” he said. “I credit the boys with making sure that they treated them with respect and knew that they were going to be a tough opponent, regardless, and did what they had to do.”
Breese was also happy with the game his team played.
“It went pretty well. We played a full 60,” he said.
Asked about his hat trick, Breese said, “I just tried to play my game and the pucks were going in the net.”
Rebels implement yellow card policy
Anyone attending Friday night’s game may have seen yellow notices posted, informing spectators that the Rebels have instituted a yellow card policy.
“Due to inappropriate behaviour in arenas all over Canada, the Castlegar Rebels have instituted a Yellow Card program. We will no longer tolerate abuse of officials, volunteers or players on BOTH sides of the ice,” reads the notice.
But despite this, a call against the Rebels’ Tanner Costa for slashing at the end of the second was met with loud objections and ref abuse when a call wasn’t made against the Braves’ player for his retaliation.
Rotheisler said he agreed with the call against Costa, but would have liked to see the ref make a retaliation call.
“I felt it was well officiated overall,” he said.
Rotheisler said there was no particular incident that led to the Rebels instituting the mandate when asked about the reason behind the yellow card policy.
“Just something we’re trying to be proactive on,” he said.
