November 19-20 Weekend Wrap-up

The Rebels braved the wintery roads last Thursday and as expected came out on top over the Grand Forks Border Bruins 5-1.  As was also expected Saturday's game in Spokane was a much sterner test.  Spokane started the game on the right foot scoring two goals both from their forward Nick Redding.  Stuart Walton responded later in the period from Nolan Kinney.  However, the hated late period goal was scored by Spokane's Zak Kroll sending the Rebels to the dressing room down 3-1 after the first.  The Rebels started with much more urgency in the second tying the game up with a goal by Riley Ostoforoff from Scotty Morisseau and Walton and then on the power play with Anthony Delong from Walton again and Daylen Pearson.  In the third the Rebels peppered 19 shots on Spokane's Branden Amatto without any success.  The Braves veteran Uriah Machuga, a thorn in the Rebels side all night, scored the game winner late in the final period.

After the long bus ride home early Sunday morning the Rebels had little time to rest.  Playing their fourth game in six days, the Rebels hosted Penticton Sunday afternoon at home.  While the Rebels controlled much of the play through the first they struggled to create quality scoring chances and the period ended with no scoring.  The second brought much more offense.  The Rebels scored early in the second frame with Dylan Houle converting a nice pass play from Delong and Tyler Robinson.  Brayden Horcoff then put the Rebs up 2-0 from Arthur Andrews and Cody Disher.  Penticton brought the Lakers within a goal with a power play goal from Steven Killy.  Delong scored with only 8 seconds left in the second and what turned out to be the winner from Horcoff and Andrews.  Penticton stayed close with a third period goal from Kale Erickson.  However the Rebels held on for the 3-2 win.  Connor Beauchamp played a very steady game for the Rebels. The Rebels ended the Penticton game 0-7 on the power play.

After the weekend I spoke with Coach Junker of the Rebels and he mentioned the need for more commitment from the players to win the tight games, "I am looking for more emotion from some of my players in how they respond to play on the ice".  He noted he is looking for the younger players to dig deeper,"the veteran players are supposed to do it all and right now they are doing that and now the young guys need to step up".  He also noted the veteran guys need to continue to set a tone and show the leadership and emotion needed as the season progresses.