SEWELL, N.J. — The Philadelphia Rebels (5-6-0-1) return to Hollydell Ice Arena this weekend looking to end a three-game skid when they host the Rochester Jr. Americans (5-6-0-0) in an East Division matchup. Philadelphia enters the contest one point ahead of Rochester, setting up a pivotal early-season clash between two teams eager to climb the standings.
The Rebels seek consistency after a 3-2 loss at Danbury on Oct. 14. Despite the losing streak, Philadelphia remains competitive in the East, sitting just two points behind fifth-place Maine. The Rebels are 5-3-0-1 at home, where they have enjoyed their strongest performances this season.
Offensively, Johnny Conlin leads Philadelphia with 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) through 10 games. Charlie Spencer has 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists), followed by Ryan Bunting (6-4-10), Abzal Alibek (4-5-9) and Jordan Brothers (4-5-9).
On defense, captain Joe Stauber and recent addition Mikey Conlon have provided stability while contributing offensively. Stauber leads all Rebel defensemen with eight points (1 goal, 7 assists), and Conlon has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in five games.
Philadelphia’s goaltending tandem has shared the workload this season. Ilja Nikitins has appeared in six games, going 4-2-0-0 with a 2.68 goals-against average and .906 save percentage, while Ben Varsa has also played in six games, posting a 1-4-0-1 record with a 3.51 GAA and .885 save percentage.
Philadelphia’s power play has converted on 6.7 percent of opportunities (3-for-45), while the penalty kill has struggled recently, surrendering five goals during the three-game skid. Overall, the Rebels have killed 79.3 percent of opponent power plays (46-for-58). Discipline and five-on-five play will be critical this weekend.
Rochester comes off a 12-3 victory over the Johnstown Tomahawks on Oct. 11, the team’s most impressive offensive performance this season. The Jr. Americans became the first team since 2021 to score 12 goals in a game. Forward Ryan Shaw leads Rochester with 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists). Defenseman Murray Kanerva has three goals and four assists, while forwards Colin Dustin, Owen King and Ryan Flaherty have each added six points.
Goaltender Jensen Carlstrom has played in all 11 games for the Jr. Americans, posting a 5-6 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. They are 4-6-0-0 in their last 10 contests but have performed well on the road, going 2-1-0-0 away from home.
Special teams have played a key role in Rochester’s early-season success. The Jr. Americans’ power play operates at 10.3 percent (4-for-39), while their penalty kill ranks near the top of the division, allowing eight goals on 59 opportunities (86.4 percent).
This weekend marks the first meeting of the 2025–26 season between Philadelphia and Rochester. Rochester brings momentum from a dominant victory, while Philadelphia looks to get back in the win column and climb the East Division standings.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Hollydell Ice Arena. Fans can purchase tickets at the door or stream the game live on NAHL TV.