It has been a while since the since the two long time Neil Murdoch rivals last met. November 5th saw the Rebels earn a hard fought 6-5 win in a fast paced exciting end to end game. Since that time the BV Nite Hawks have gone on a tear winning 13 straight games and currently sit first overall in the Division and the League. The Rebels have also been hot of late with 8 wins and a tie and a loss in their last 10 games. With BV having two games in hand on the Rebels and a 5 point lead in the standings this has to be amongst the most important games to date in this season for both teams. A chance for Beaver Valley to build a bigger gap between themselves and Castlegar and a chance for the Rebels to reel in their hockey counterparts. The next two days will tell the story.
The Nite Hawks have a potent offensive attack led by Ryan Edwards, Chris Deroche and Chris Martin who are currently 1st, 4th and 5th respectively in scoring in the KIJHL. It is no magic formula that controlling this offense would be a key to success for the Rebels. Over the season thus far, the Rebels can boast an excellent goals against statistic of 85 goals (as compared to 102 against BV). Also, on the power play and penalty kill, the Rebels are just ahead of BV. The Rebels power play continues to improve with two dangerous scoring lines of Scotty Morisseau, Stuart Walton, and Arthur Andrews and the trio of Anthony Delong, Tyler Robinson, and Peter Mingus. Both teams no doubt will be wary of penalties and will be looking for disciplined and hard nosed play.
If the teams manage to stay out of the box, it will be the five on five play and goal tending that will rule the day. As Rebel coach Steve Junker has noted in previous articles, balanced hard working team play with all players chipping in in all areas of the ice, is a key component of a strong outing. As the Rebels move well into the second half of the season, this is a great time for the younger players to step forward with their physical play and confidence. I will be looking for sustained, consistent effort from the Rebels taking away time and space from the scorers on Beaver Valley and creating quality chances for the Rebel team.
For fans, these games are a real Christmas holiday treat and a great opportunity to show support for your team. I am expecting the two best, most exciting games of the season thus far and a great test for our team.
Games time are:
Tonight: December 29 - 7:30 pm, Castlegar Complex
Tomorrow: December 30 - 7:00 pm, Beaver Valley Arena
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
December Hockey Stories
The Rebels traveled to Nelson last weekend for a long awaited match-up with the Leafs. While the game ended in a 5-2 win for the green team, the Rebels can take away some positives as they prepare for a return engagement with Nelson in Castlegar this Saturday.
Nelson opened the scoring with Newman from Sorrey and Norman. Soon after, on the power play, the Leafs scored again with Beitel from Petrash and Newman. Late in the first frame Anthony Delong scored from Tyler Robinson. Coach Junker put AP Quinn Kilmchuck out for a power play shift in the second and was rewarded as Klimchuck scored from Stu Walton and Delong. Rebel fans joy was unfortunately short-lived as the "game of the power play goal" saw Horswill score from Newman and Beitel. Then on another PP Schell scored again from Newman. The Leafs rounded out their scoring with a final power play goal scored by Newman from Norman.
While a loss, the 5-2 score was not indicative of the play. The Rebels outshot Nelson 34-23 but Leaf goalie Andrew Walton was very strong all game long stopping several point blank shots. Talking with Steve Junker he was pleased with the effort saying, "I saw many positives tonight and overall was satisfied with the efforts of the team". He added, "we did struggle with our penalty kill in the game and allowed Nelson to move around in our zone on the power play", and "the play of Andrew Walton was a factor in the game for sure".
As the Rebels set out to do, they continued their strong play into the Saturday game against the Summerland Steam. Scoring on their first shift, teddies rained down on the ice stopping play for a few moments. The Rebels continued to outwork, outhit and outscore the Steam taking a 10-1 win. Led by Anthony Delong with 5 points and his line mates Tyler Robinson and Peter Mingus the Rebels played a consistent game. Several players chipped in points including Aaron Brewer with two assists. Notable was the hard-nosed play of the Kody Disher, Diego Bartlett, and Brenden Heinrich trio.
Tuesday saw the Rebels playing an improved Spokane Braves team. What on paper looked like a close contest, as it turned out, was a game tilted in favor of a hard working Rebels team. The Rebs again took the game to opposition and never looked out of control of the outcome. Diego Bartlett led off the scoring from Disher and Heinrich in the first. In the second, the Rebels scored three goals, first Delong from Riley Ostoforoff and Peter Mingus. Then Connor Bowen scored off a great shot assisted by Walton and Daylen Pearson. The Rebels continued their domination of the Braves in the third with goals by Eric Alden from Robinson and Mingus and then Heinrich from Disher and Brewer for the 6-0 shutout win. Spokane had their chances but Jordan Gluck looked strong in goal. I noted the heads up play of AP Tanner Johnson on defense and look forward to other games for him in the line-up.
Lets bring on this weekends opposition!
Nelson opened the scoring with Newman from Sorrey and Norman. Soon after, on the power play, the Leafs scored again with Beitel from Petrash and Newman. Late in the first frame Anthony Delong scored from Tyler Robinson. Coach Junker put AP Quinn Kilmchuck out for a power play shift in the second and was rewarded as Klimchuck scored from Stu Walton and Delong. Rebel fans joy was unfortunately short-lived as the "game of the power play goal" saw Horswill score from Newman and Beitel. Then on another PP Schell scored again from Newman. The Leafs rounded out their scoring with a final power play goal scored by Newman from Norman.
While a loss, the 5-2 score was not indicative of the play. The Rebels outshot Nelson 34-23 but Leaf goalie Andrew Walton was very strong all game long stopping several point blank shots. Talking with Steve Junker he was pleased with the effort saying, "I saw many positives tonight and overall was satisfied with the efforts of the team". He added, "we did struggle with our penalty kill in the game and allowed Nelson to move around in our zone on the power play", and "the play of Andrew Walton was a factor in the game for sure".
As the Rebels set out to do, they continued their strong play into the Saturday game against the Summerland Steam. Scoring on their first shift, teddies rained down on the ice stopping play for a few moments. The Rebels continued to outwork, outhit and outscore the Steam taking a 10-1 win. Led by Anthony Delong with 5 points and his line mates Tyler Robinson and Peter Mingus the Rebels played a consistent game. Several players chipped in points including Aaron Brewer with two assists. Notable was the hard-nosed play of the Kody Disher, Diego Bartlett, and Brenden Heinrich trio.
Tuesday saw the Rebels playing an improved Spokane Braves team. What on paper looked like a close contest, as it turned out, was a game tilted in favor of a hard working Rebels team. The Rebs again took the game to opposition and never looked out of control of the outcome. Diego Bartlett led off the scoring from Disher and Heinrich in the first. In the second, the Rebels scored three goals, first Delong from Riley Ostoforoff and Peter Mingus. Then Connor Bowen scored off a great shot assisted by Walton and Daylen Pearson. The Rebels continued their domination of the Braves in the third with goals by Eric Alden from Robinson and Mingus and then Heinrich from Disher and Brewer for the 6-0 shutout win. Spokane had their chances but Jordan Gluck looked strong in goal. I noted the heads up play of AP Tanner Johnson on defense and look forward to other games for him in the line-up.
Lets bring on this weekends opposition!
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Nelson Tilt and then the Steam
If the Rebels ever needed some incentive to play hard and play to win then this weekend is it. Not only do the Rebels finally get to play divisional rival Nelson Leafs, but this weekend starts a round of key match-ups with playoff implications.
Friday finds the Rebels travelling along the Kootenay River to Nelson to take on the Leafs. In what should be a great battle, the Rebels will be looking to move further ahead of Nelson in the Neil Murdoch standing. With three points currently separating the teams, every game between the two is a chance to make a statement. I asked Steve Junker about the weekend and he is "looking for his team to answer the bell". In the Neil Murdoch typically, "you have to get through Nelson or Beaver Valley in the playoffs so a game like this in Nelson should be as fun and as exciting as it gets". This is also a chance to see what the Nelson team looks like.
Junker is also looking for a sustained effort through the weekend and a strong performance at home against the Summerland Steam. This game is also a chance to welcome Steam goalie Alex Ross back to the Complex.
There have been some roster changes over the last few weeks. The Rebels forward Dylan Houle was moved. Defenseman Joren Johnson was signed by the Trail Smoke Eaters. Good luck Joren with your new team. I asked Junker about the Rebels roster and possible changes. Steve commented that the team is "a little short on defense" and like many teams in the league, "the Rebels continue to look for a player or two who could help the team". He noted that rule changes this year in BC Junior leagues from carrying 23 to now 21 players has resulted in very few player moves or players available.
Games ahead from this weekend include:
Dec 13 in Castlegar against Spokane
Dec 16 away in Kelowna
Dec 17 in Castlegar against Nelson
Dec 29 in Castlegar against BV
Dec 30 in BV
December should be a great month to watch some exciting Rebel hockey. It is also a fine moment for the Rebels to take the next big step as a team.
Friday finds the Rebels travelling along the Kootenay River to Nelson to take on the Leafs. In what should be a great battle, the Rebels will be looking to move further ahead of Nelson in the Neil Murdoch standing. With three points currently separating the teams, every game between the two is a chance to make a statement. I asked Steve Junker about the weekend and he is "looking for his team to answer the bell". In the Neil Murdoch typically, "you have to get through Nelson or Beaver Valley in the playoffs so a game like this in Nelson should be as fun and as exciting as it gets". This is also a chance to see what the Nelson team looks like.
Junker is also looking for a sustained effort through the weekend and a strong performance at home against the Summerland Steam. This game is also a chance to welcome Steam goalie Alex Ross back to the Complex.
There have been some roster changes over the last few weeks. The Rebels forward Dylan Houle was moved. Defenseman Joren Johnson was signed by the Trail Smoke Eaters. Good luck Joren with your new team. I asked Junker about the Rebels roster and possible changes. Steve commented that the team is "a little short on defense" and like many teams in the league, "the Rebels continue to look for a player or two who could help the team". He noted that rule changes this year in BC Junior leagues from carrying 23 to now 21 players has resulted in very few player moves or players available.
Games ahead from this weekend include:
Dec 13 in Castlegar against Spokane
Dec 16 away in Kelowna
Dec 17 in Castlegar against Nelson
Dec 29 in Castlegar against BV
Dec 30 in BV
December should be a great month to watch some exciting Rebel hockey. It is also a fine moment for the Rebels to take the next big step as a team.
Update from Last Weekend
Sorry to readers for being offline. Wish I could say I was holidaying or something like that. The Rebels started very strongly last weekend with a determined effort against the Princeton Posse. The Rebels grabbed hold of the game in the first with a 3-1 lead and never looked back ending up with a 6-2 win. Coach Steve Junker noted " even though the team was missing some guys the team moved the puck really well and had a really crisp start". The Rebels fore checked and showed confident puck possession play. The Morisseau, Walton, Andrews trio was dangerous all night 5-5 and on the power play. Up front I also noted the strong fore check and improving play of Diego Bartlett and Peter Mingus who were on the puck all night. Jordan Gluck looked very strong in goal and while not overly busy he seemed to be a calm and steadying influence to his team. AP Darren Medeiros had a good game as well, playing physically and generating chances.
As has been the case at times for the Rebels, the teams play in second game of the weekend did not match the quality of their first. The Golden Rockets had already beaten the Rebels in Golden several weeks before and I was looking forward to the Rebels bringing their "A" game. Instead, a hard working Rockets team had the Rebels on their heals earning a 1-0 first period lead. The lead held until deep into the third period. While the Rebels team worked hard to score, Golden goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn was stingy in goal making several key saves. After working hard to tie the score in the third a bad giveaway by the Rebels quickly found Golden back in the lead. With only 1:36 on the clock Diego Bartlett scored a big goal giving the Rebels a tie 2-2. Overtime solved nothing leaving the Rebels with a win and a tie for the weekend.
Talking with Steve he noted the challenges the Rebels have at "maintaining a consistent level of intensity and urgency game to game". He is looking for the team to learn to "play at their potential and not just good enough or at the level of their opponent" as stiffer challenges for the team lie ahead.
As has been the case at times for the Rebels, the teams play in second game of the weekend did not match the quality of their first. The Golden Rockets had already beaten the Rebels in Golden several weeks before and I was looking forward to the Rebels bringing their "A" game. Instead, a hard working Rockets team had the Rebels on their heals earning a 1-0 first period lead. The lead held until deep into the third period. While the Rebels team worked hard to score, Golden goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn was stingy in goal making several key saves. After working hard to tie the score in the third a bad giveaway by the Rebels quickly found Golden back in the lead. With only 1:36 on the clock Diego Bartlett scored a big goal giving the Rebels a tie 2-2. Overtime solved nothing leaving the Rebels with a win and a tie for the weekend.
Talking with Steve he noted the challenges the Rebels have at "maintaining a consistent level of intensity and urgency game to game". He is looking for the team to learn to "play at their potential and not just good enough or at the level of their opponent" as stiffer challenges for the team lie ahead.
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