The Township of Chatsworth “Edward McNabb Roofing” Bantam LL Rebels had one final chance to beat the Ripley Wolves Elite team. Victory against this team has eluded the Rebels all season as they frequently found themselves with a lead quickly disappearing in the third.
The bodies and words have been flying as much as the pucks the previous 4 times these teams faced off. Today though, there was more discipline in the Rebels players as they seemed to have finally learned that to beat this team, they needed to stay on the ice and not be drawn into the penalty box. The Wolves drew first blood as they put one by the Rebel goalie only 20 seconds in. The Rebels were flying though and Rebel Captain Evan Longland would reply with a goal of his own (assists to Kyle Fry and Will Kavanagh) 20 seconds later. It was an even match with Rebel goalie Ethan Fennell making some great saves until the final minute of the first when Kavanagh scored on the break away and then again on assists from Fry and Longland, to end the first 3-1 in favour of the Rebels. The Rebels knew this team would not roll over and with 30 minutes of play left, there was still a long battle ahead. The Wolves scored twice before the midway point of the second to tie the score. Howover, the Rebels fought back and scored 3 of their own between the 7 minute mark and the 2 minute mark. Longland (assisted by Dawson McNabb) Longland (unassisted – for the hat trick) and McNabb (assisted by Longland and Sam Hicks) gave he Rebels a 6-3 lead. Once again, the Wolves weren’t finished as one went in on a scramble in front to end the period 6-4 in favour of the Rebels. The third was a hard fought period with the Wolves doing their best to draw the Rebels into penalties, but the Rebels kept their heads (for the most part) and the Ripley players went to the box alone. Finally with 3 minutes left in the period the Ripley captain got a break away on a turnover during a Rebel change which he slipped through into the Rebel net. McNabb replied with a goal of his own 13 seconds later, but everyone was throwing everything they had at the puck and each other and the Wolves managed once again to pull within 1 goal with a power play goal with only a minute left to play. It was a long hard minute with several men in the box, but the Rebels emerged victorious (finally) 7-6. Great game Rebels and a big thank you to our many cheering fans!!!
This team takes the ice again in Chatsworth on Saturday, March 2 2:00 pm vs. the Mildmay Monarchs