Chris Stedile
Castlegar News
The Castlegar Rebels emerged from back-to-back home games this weekend with an even 1-1 record.
Friday night the Rebels hosted Kamloops Storm in what was a true nail biter.
Throughout the first period both teams traded blows and shots to no avail as the goalies consistently shut down all attempts.
This was until, with 19 seconds remaining, Kamloops’ player Felix Larouche passed the puck off to Ryan Keis and then to Addison Bazian who found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Another blow was dealt to Castlegar less than one minute into the second period of play when Mark O’shaughnessy scored off an assist from Ian Chrystal and Felix Larouche.
It took over 14 minutes for the Rebels to reply with their own goal. With 5:03 to go in the second Bryan Lubin scored for the Rebels off assists from Ren Mason to Jeremy McNeil.
The intensity kept on through the third, but as the period approached its end with no goals from either side, and the Rebels down a man for delay of game, things were looking bleak for Castlegar.
However, with 42 seconds left in regulation, Bryan Lubin became the saviour the Rebels needed and landed a puck behind the goalie.
The goal was assisted by Jeremy McNeil and Ryan Rosich.
After a show of force from both teams in overtime, the Kamloops Storm came away with the win after Ian Chrystal scored to end the game.
The next night, Castlegar played host to the league-leading Nelson Leafs.
Within 10 minutes the Rebels had put away three goals.
The first from Darren Medeiros assisted by Yannis Soukas, followed by a powerplay goal from Bryan Lubin. Jeremy McNeil had the assist.
Goal number three was scored by Tyler Barrett from Ryan Teslak.
Determined not to enter the intermission scoreless the Leafs’ Patrick Croome found the net on a powerplay with less than two minutes to go.
The Leafs failed to ride this momentum into the next period, scoring no goals and allowing Rebels forward Darren Medeiros a goal of his own.
Coming into the final regulation period, the Leafs showed they still had plenty of fight left in them.
In under two minutes Austin Lindsay scored against Rebels’ Patrick Zubick, bringing the score to 4-2.
Only a few minutes passed before the Rebels all but sealed the deal with back-to-back goals from Darren Medeiros and Cal Owens.
Goals were assisted by Konnor Madsen and Dawson Haines.
Nelson was able to muster one goal from Rayce Miller and another from Robson Cramer off of Austin Lindsay and Darnel St. Pierre but it was not enough and the Rebels came away with a 6-4 victory.
The Rebels play again this Friday and Saturday with a double header against Grand Forks. Saturday’s game will be in the home arena at 7 p.m..