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.
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