The Rebels completed this weekend’s two game sweep of the Northeast Generals by winning 7 – 1 propelled by Andrew Bellant’s five point game. The win gave the Rebels a 7 – 1 record on the season.
Kyle Martin’s penalty at 1:31 into the first period put the Rebels on the power play. After working the puck in the offensive zone, the Generals were able to intercept a pass and clear the puck back into the Rebels zone where it was picked up by Ryan Solomon. Solomon brought the puck back up the ice and dumped it into the far side corner. The puck was picked up by Ginluca Esteves who passed it back behind the net to Drew Blackmun. Blackmun passed it back to Esteves who fed it back to a moving Solomon at the top of the point. Solomon took a wrist shop that beat Generals goaltender Stephen Gaisor long side to give the Rebels a 1 – 0 only 2:52 into the game.
A minute later Dom Garcia won the draw deep inside the Rebels zone after an icing call. The puck went back to Brennan Kapcheck who dumped the puck into the neutral zone where it was picked up by Garcia. Garcia looked to the far side boards and found Esteves on his right. Esteves entered into the Generals zone and carried the puck towards Gaisor and beat him in tight and short side to put the Rebels up 2 – 0 just four minutes into the game. Generals coach Bryan Erickson quickly pulled Gaisor and replaced him with Gabe Vinyl.
Generals’ Grant Wellinger was called for slashing at 9:20 in the first putting the Rebels back on the power play. Jensen Zerban brought the puck down low into the Generals’ zone. He passed it to Garcia who took a shot on Vinyl who made the initial save but couldn’t control the rebound. The puck came out to Bellant who put it behind Vinyl to give the Rebels a 3 – 0 lead only 10 minutes into the game.
After outshooting the Generals 18 – 9 in the first, the Rebels looked to add more in the second period. They did quickly. Reid Miller was at his own circle and passed the puck to Ryan Patrick at center ice. Patrick brought the puck down low in the near side corner. He found Miller open in the top of the slot and he took a slapshot. Vinyl made the save and Bellant picked up the rebound as he was falling down and put it passed Vinyl to give the Rebels a 4 – 0 lead. It was Bellant’s second goal of the game and fourth on the weekend.
The Rebels would score again in the second when Gvido Jansons found the net on the power play to give the Rebels a 5 – 0. The Rebels would receive addition goals by Kapcheck and Garcia in the third. The Generals Devin Pierce broke the shutout by beating Mareks Mitens 6:48 in the final period.
Kapcheck and Garcia finished the night with three points each while Esteves had two points. Mitens stopped 29 of 30 shots. Click here for the box score.
