Rebels squeak out win in Game one of KIJHL Final
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Castlegar Rebels shook off a little rust to steal a 2-1 victory over the North Okanagan Knights in Game one of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Final Tuesday night in the Sunflower City.
Game two of the best-of-seven series goes Wednesday back in Castlegar before the series shifts to Armstrong for Games three and four, Friday and Saturday.
Despite being well rested after putting away the Golden Rockets six days ago, it was the visiting Knights scoring first on the power play when Mac Ferner beat Jordan Gluck shortside to open the scoring.
In the second the Knights kept on coming, out shooting the Rebels 16-4 but it was Travis Wellman scoring his seventh of the playoffs evening the game at 1-1 with a goal late in the frame.
The goal inspired the home side, which came on flying in the third.
Not only did the Rebels own most of the play with a 11-5 shot advantage, but the home team got the winner by Diego Bartlett early in the final period.
Jordan Gluck backstopped the Rebels the rest of the way to secure the win.
North Okanagan out shot the Rebels 28-23 in the game.
ICE CHIPS: The game attracted only 446 fans to the Castlegar Arena Complex for the league final. . . . The KIJHL used the NHL style two-referee system for the contest with Mike Paige and T. Hawthorne calling the game. . . .Castlegar last played a week ago in Golden while the Knights had to go seven games before ousting Osoyoos Coyotes Sunday in Armstrong.
