Nikolishin With A Pair; Rebels Edge Ice 4-3
RED DEER, AB –
Winners of six straight on home ice and four straight overall, the Rebels welcomed the Kootenay Ice to the Enmax Centrium for the first time this season.
FIRST PERIOD
Kootenay broke the ice in this game at the 10:38 mark when Vince Loschiavo capitalized on a Rebels turnover for his first goal of the year.
SECOND PERIOD
An innocent looking shot from the newest Rebels ended up tying the game for the home side. A knuckleball-type point shot from Braden Purtill eluded Ice goalie Wyatt Hoflin for Purtill’s first goal as a Rebel. Reece Johnson and Austin Pratt assisted on the 1-1 goal 3:12 into the middle frame.
Kootenay tied the game with a powerplay goal that came shortly after a lengthy injury delay. Luke Philp went high glove side on Trevor Martin for his 7th goal of the year at 13:48 to nod the game 2-2.
THIRD PERIOD
Nikolishin restored Red Deer’s one goal lead with another powerplay goal similar to his first. Ivan’s snipe from the slot, set up by Wyatt Johnson and Michael Spacek, made it a 3-2 game 8:45 into the final frame.
Grayson Pawlenchuk gave the Rebels a two goal lead when he found a loose puck and found the back of the net for his 7th goal of the year and second in as many nights. Spacek and Purtill with the assists on the 4-2 marker that came with 6:25 to go.
Kootenay pulled the goalie with 2:35 to go and carried the play from then on in, making it a 4-3 game with 22 seconds to go on Philp’s second goal of the night. That is as close as the Ice would get. Red Deer holds on for a 4-3 win.
BOOSTER JUICE THREE STARS
1. Ivan Nikolishin RD
2. Grayson Pawlenchuk RD
3. Luke Philp KTN
HARDEST WORKING REBEL – Braden Purtill
NOTES – Rebels scratches for the game were Haydn Fleury (suspension), Josh Mahura (lower), Ryan Pouliot (lower) and Evan Polei (upper)… attendance for the game was 5547.
NEXT GAME – The Rebels wrap up their four game home stand Friday, October 30 versus the Spokane Chiefs. Game time is at 7 p.m. with tickets available through Ticketmaster. The McDonald’s Pre-game Show on 106.7 The Drive begins at 6:30.
Story by Troy Gillard
