The Castlegar Rebels swept the series against the Columbia Valley Rockies on Friday night.
Given that the teams’ first two encounters this season ended in victory for the Rebels, it seemed like they had a fair shot a sweeping the series, but coach Bill Rotheisler said nothing was certain.
“[The Rockies have] improved a lot, like through the year they made a lot of moves, and their team is way better than the last time we played them, so give them credit,” he said.
“We came out, we played, I hate to use the cliché, but our game for the first period and parts of it,” he added.
During the first period the Rebels put up two points — the first scored by No. 16 Chance Szott and assisted by No. 25 Everett Hicks and No. 27 Daniel Petten, and the second scored on a breakaway by Hicks. The period ended with the Rockies failing to get on the board, and things looking good for the Rebels, but trouble started brewing in the second period.
No. 3 for the Rebels, Logan Styler, scored early in the second period, bringing the score to 3-0, but then less than seven minutes into the period, No. 9 Jacob Boston and No. 6 Nico Sidoni were both sent to the penalty box, one for a double minor, giving the Rockies a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. The Rebels fought to kill the penalty — succeeding at first and even taking the puck into the Rockies’ zone for some shots on net — but in the end the Rockies’ No. 11 Chase Hawkins found the net.
All the same, Rotheisler was impressed with how his team handled the penalties.
“Even though we ended up with a goal against, if we can kill that way every kill, I mean it’s all about percentages right?” he said.
The Rebels were less consistent in the final period, though Szott was the first to score in the period during a power play, but the Rockies’ No. 7 Brennan Nelson quickly answered. Then in the final eight minutes, the Rockies’ No. 17 Riley Knott scored on a power play, bringing the score to 4-3. The Rebels fought to keep their lead, and in the final minute the Rockies pulled their goalie for a 6-on-5. In the end the Rebels not only held off the Rockies’s offence, but No. 13 John Moeller, assisted by No. 12 Shawn Campbell, scored on the empty net with 0:01 on the clock, ending the game 5-3.
The Rebels continued their success over the weekend with away games in Nelson and Spokane. They defeated the Nelson Leafs 8-2 and the Spokane Braves 7-1, putting them on a four game-winning streak.
The Rebels currently sit second in the Neil Murdoch Division, and a number of their players are counted among the league leaders, including Styler, who is currently the top player in the KIJHL.
“It’s funny, it’s such a cliché hockey player thing, but we never mention it. We never talk about it,” said Rotheisler. “He understands that he’s a big contributor to his point total, but it’s also a product of the guys who are around him, and he’d be the first one to tell you that.”
Sadly for Rebels fans, Ed Lindsey, who is currently fifth in the league, is expected to lose that spot. Lindsey injured his shoulder and will likely be unable to play again during the regular season.
“I can’t foresee [Lindsey] being back for the regular season, but I think if we shoot for the playoffs, it would be a good timeline for him,” said Rotheisler.