The 21st annual North American Hockey League (NAHL) Showcase is set to begin today at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, MN. The Rebels will play three games: Wednesday, September 25 against the Wisconsin Windigo at 5:30PM ET; Bismarck Bobcats on Thursday, September 26 at 5:30PM ET, and the New Mexico Ice Wolves on Friday, September 27 at 12:45PM ET.
This will be the third trip in franchise history for the Rebels to the Showcase. Philadelphia has an overall record of 4 – 4 in two previous Showcases, although they have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 22 – 20. Last year the Rebels went 2 – 2 and outscored their foes 11 – 8. They have one shutout in eight games when they defeated the North Iowa Bulls 5 – 0 last year. The Rebels very first franchise game was played on September 14, 2022 at the League Showcase when they defeated the Corpus Christi Ice Rays 5 – 2.
With the exception of Wisconsin, the Rebels have never played Bismarck or New Mexico. They played Wisconsin during their inaugural showcase back on September 15, 2022 when they lost to the Windigo 5 – 1.
Windigo Overview
Wisconsin is currently in third place in the Midwest Division with a 3 – 1 record for six points. They are coming off a 5 – 2 home loss to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The Windigo have scored 15 goals (eighth in the league), and they have allowed 14 (26th in the league). They have converted on 7.14% of the chances on the man advantage (27th in the league), and their penalty kill is at 90% (eighth in the league).
Braydon Beahm leads the team in total points (2 goals and 4 assists) with six. Five players, including Beahm, have two goals apiece. Three different players have scored a game winning goal. Luke Baker has a team best +5 while Carson Strapon leads Windigo with 43 penalty minutes.
Wisconsin’s goaltenders have a combined 3.50 goals against average and .867 save percentage with no shutouts.
Bobcats Overview
Bismarck is currently in first place in the Central Division with a 2 – 0 record for four points. They are coming off a weekend road sweep over the Watertown Shamrocks. The Bobcats have scored 10 goals (21st in the league), and they have allowed four (4th in the league). They have yet to convert on any of their eight powerplay chances (32nd in the league), and their penalty kill is at 100% (third in the league).
Josh Lehto (1 goal and 2 assists) and Julian Beaumont (1 goal and 2 assists) each have three total points to lead the team while Wyatt Sypniewski has scored the most goals (two). Alexandr Kim and Brendan Ruskowski each have a game winning goal. Tristen Trevino has a team best +5 while Jakub Kopecky leads Bismarck with eight penalty minutes.
Bismarck’s goaltenders have a combined 2.00 goals against average and .909 save percentage with no shutouts.
Ice Wolves Overview
New Mexico is currently in eighth place in the South Division with a 1 – 2 record for two points. They are coming off a 5 – 2 home loss to the Corpus Christi Ice Rays (Corpus took two of three from New Mexico last weekend). The Ice Wolves have scored seven goals (27th in the league), and they have allowed 11 (20th in the league). They have converted on 9% of the chances on the man advantage (25th in the league), and their penalty kill is at 86.6% (16th in the league).
Three different players have a goal and two assists to lead the team with three total points while Andrew Earl has scored the most goals with two. Johnny Johannson has the Ice Wolves lone game winning goal. Francois De Villiers and Earl each have a team best +3 while Max Matthews leads New Mexico with ten penalty minutes.
New Mexico’s goaltenders have a combined 3.40 goals against average and .867 save percentage with no shutouts.
Rebels Overview
The Rebels are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the East Division with a 3-0-1-0 record for seven points. They are coming off of a two-game home sweep over the Johnstown Tomahawks. Philadelphia has scored 19 goals (tied for first in the league), and they have allowed 15 (28th in the league). They have converted on 22.2% of the chances on the man advantage (5th in the league), and their penalty kill is at 87.5% (13th in the league).
Charles Panchisin leads the team with eight total points (2 goals and six assists. Ruslan Jamaldinov has the most goals with four. Caesar Bjork, Brock Jones and Jamaldinov each have a game winning goal, and those same three each have a team best +6. Jones has the most penalty minutes with eight.
Goaltenders Owen Crudale and Cole Werthman have a combined 3.75 goals against average and .845 save percentage with no shutouts.
