SIX NATIONS – The 2017 Six Nations Rebels had a little harder of a time defeating the Owen Sound North Stars, 13-10, Friday night than they had in the season opening 15-4 last week, but the end result was the same.
The young Rebels are already showing signs of great things to come, howbeit against two of the league’s weaker franchises, they will bank the points for a time later in the season when those points may be needed down the stretch.
To their credit, the North Stars appear to have made a few steps forward giving the Rebels reason for concern.
As far as the Rebels are concerned, the spread of seven goals scored by six, Six Nations players in the first period is a good sign of a well balanced team, put together by general manager Scott Maracle and rookie coach Miles General.
It was a wild opening where 11 goals were scored as the Rebels built a 7-4 first period lead with goals by Wake-Riat Bowhunter, Sidney Powless, Chayton King, Colin Montour, Layne Smith, with two, and Josh Miller.
The Stars pushed back in the second period, but not before Garret Vyse-Squire made it 8-4 only 18 seconds into the period. Owen Sound’s Logan Swanson responded nine seconds later with a short-hander.
The Rebels’ Riley Miller chipped one in before Layne Smith netted his third of the game from Owen Martin at 8:01. The Stars battled back with the last three goals of the second period to threaten a comeback, but Riley Miller, Bowhunter, and Gates Abram put the game out of reach despite the Stars gutsy performance scoring the last two of the game for the 13-10 final.
In all, 13 Rebels who dressed for the game contributed to the win while Dustin Hill got the win in the Rebel’s net, facing 44 shots.
The Rebels will face their toughest challenge so far this season on Thursday night when they travel to Niagara Falls to take on the Thunderhawks at 8 p.m. They will return to the ILA, Friday, April 28, at 8 p.m. to host the Welland Generals.
