The Philadelphia Rebels and Rochester Jr. Americans meet again this weekend in a pivotal matchup as both teams look to gain momentum heading into November. The two clubs last faced off in Philadelphia earlier this month, when the Jr. Americans claimed back-to-back 4–1 victories. The Rebels head north with redemption on their minds and confidence gained from their recent turnaround.
Philadelphia (6-10-0-1) enters the series on a high note after snapping a seven-game skid with a 2–0 shutout victory over the New Jersey Titans on Oct. 25. Goaltender Ben Varsa was superb in that win, turning aside all 33 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season, while Cam Wilson netted both goals. Alongside Ilja Nikitins (4-5-0, 2.71 GAA, .912 SV%), the Rebels’ goaltending tandem has been a bright spot during a stretch of tight, low-scoring games.
Offensively, Johnny Conlin continues to lead the Rebels with 14 points (7G, 7A) in 13 games, followed closely by Charlie Spencer (3G, 10A, 13PTS). Abzal Alibek and Alex Lunski have rounded out a balanced top six. Special teams remain a major focus for Philadelphia heading into the weekend. The Rebels’ power play ranks 32nd in the NAHL, converting at 10.8 percent (7-for-65), while their penalty kill sits 26th at 76.3 percent.
Rochester (7-8-0-0) enters the series seeking a bounce-back after consecutive losses to the Maine Nordiques, including a 2–0 shutout on Oct. 25. The Jr. Americans have been led by Ryan Shaw, who paces the team with 17 points (9G, 8A) through 14 games. Owen King and Adam Gionta each have 10 points, while Murray Kanerva and Ryan Flaherty have added reliable secondary scoring.
In net, Jensen Carlstrom has been a steady presence, logging 13 starts and posting a 6-7-0 record with a 2.62 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. His strong play has kept Rochester competitive despite a challenging start.
On special teams, Rochester’s power play ranks 25th in the league at 16.7 percent (8-for-48), while its penalty kill has been one of its strengths, sitting seventh in the NAHL with an 83.6 percent success rate. That balance has allowed the Jr. Americans to stay disciplined and capitalize on opponents’ mistakes — a key factor in their earlier wins over Philadelphia.
With both teams separated by only a few points in the standings, expect a high-intensity weekend at the Rochester Ice Center as Philadelphia looks to keep its momentum rolling and Rochester aims to defend home ice. Puck drop for Game 1 is set for Friday at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday’s rematch at 7 p.m. wrapping up the weekend series. Fans can catch all the action on NATV.