Fans who braved the heavy snow and treacherous road conditions saw all they needed as the Rebels scored three, first period goals en route to a 4 – 1 victory over the visiting Johnstown Tomahawks. The win moved the team back into sole possession of first place in the East Division.
Just 3:36 into the opening period the Rebels went on their first powerplay on the night when Johnstown’s Andy Nedeljkovic was called for checking from behind. Seventeen seconds later defenseman Dusan Kmac would put the Rebels on the board.
Andrew Bellant began setting up the play when he walked the point going from his left to his right. As he got midway to point he sent a pass back to Jensen Zerban at the near side boards. Zerban threw a pass down low to Aaron Maguyon. The Egg Harbor Township, NJ native would send a centering pass to Brandon Stanley who took a shot that hit the crossbar and the rebound came out to Kmec who put it past Tomahawks goalie Kade Phipps to make it a 1 – 0 game. It was Kmec’s third goal on the season.
The Rebels would double their lead on Carson Moniz’s third goal on the season with 7:43 remaining in the period.
Auggie Moore would enter the offensive zone on a two on one with Eric Olson. As Moore skated to the top of the slot he passed the puck over to Olson on his left. As Olson went to take a shot he was hooked from behind and the shot went wide and bounced into the near side corner. Adam Peck would pick up the loose puck and send a pass back to Moniz at the point. Moniz would then pass the puck far side to Kolby Vegara who immediately sent the puck back to Moniz. The London, Ontario native took a shot that found its way through a screen and past Phipps to make it 2 – 0 Rebels.
Eleven seconds later Ryan Patrick would make it 3 – 0 Rebels.
After the ensuing faceoff won by the Tomahawks the puck would go into the far side corner where it was picked up by Johnstown’s Reagan Wortz. The Tomahawks defenseman sent an errant pass in his own slot where it was immediately intercepted by Patrick who buried a wrist shot past Phipps for his seventh goal on the season.
The Rebels would out shoot the Tomahawks 14 – 2 in the opening period.
After no scoring in the second period, Moore would make it a 4 – 0 game at 9:12 into the third. As Bryant Gunn went to enter the Johnstown zone along the near side boards he was brought down at the blueline and the puck went into the corner where it was picked up by Tomahawks’ defenseman Chase Davidson. Davidson would send a cross-slot pass over to Wortz. Wortz looked to make an outlet pass but it was intercepted by Peck at the point. Peck found a streaking Auggie Moore going to the net. Moore cut across the goal mouth and took a shot that was saved by Phipps but Moore picked up his own rebound and put it past the Johnstown netminder for this seventh goal on the season.
Haddonfield, NJ native and former Rebel Carson Briere would score Johnstown’s lone goal on the powerplay with 7:58 remaining in the game to make it 4 – 1.
Rebels goalie Ryan Keane stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced while Phipps turned aside 19 of 23. Click here for the box score.
The two teams will be back at it tonight at the Class of 1923 Arena for a 7:35pm start.
