Rebels 4 Braves 1

Tyler Jones put home a power-play goal with just over four minutes remaining in the second period, and Stuart Walton and Anthony DeLong added third period tallies 31 seconds apart to lift the Rebels to a 4-1 win in Spokane tonight.

Diego Bartlett also scored for Castlegar, while Alex Ross made 28 saves between the pipes in his first action in two weeks. Rance Hughes' breakaway goal late in the first period was the only puck that beat the Montrose native.

This one started out with some punch. Forward Spencer Brodt and Braves captain Nick Redding were both tossed five minutes in; the former for a check from behind, the latter for dropping the gloves in retaliation.

Until Walton and DeLong broke it open though, tonight's game was a tight defensive battle and a good preview of what we could potentially see in the first round of the KIJHL playoffs (if the standings stay static until the end of the year, the Rebels and Braves would indeed meet). The two clubs will go it again once more in the regular season next Sunday in a game I'm hoping to make the trip to the Lilac City for.

Castlegar was without leading scorer Ryan Aynsley, who served the first of his two-game suspension. Curtis Pereverzoff also sat out, while I didn't notice Kwinn Mazzilli get much ice time after the first period.

Up Next: The Rebels welcome the Kelowna Chiefs for their only meeting of the season tomorrow night (7:30 PM, Complex). More on them below.

Where Are They Now: Old Rebels teammates have reunited in Duncan. Adam Smith was already there, but defenseman Matt Ridley had a pair of assists tonight in his 5th game with the BCHL's Cowichan Valley Capitals. Smith, by the way, scrapped with former Penticton Laker Lars Hepso tonight, as Alberni Valley beat the Caps 4-3. Another former KIJHL face moving on up is former Coyotes tender Billy McGladrey, who's now the backup netminder for the BCHL's Coquitlam Express. Former BV Nitehawk Kyle St. Denis was held off the scoresheet tonight in his Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) debut.

Out of Town: In the only other Neil Murdoch Division matchup of the night, Nelson fell 8-6 at home to Kelowna in a wild one. Colten DeFrias had a hat-trick, and Dane Rupert chipped in with 4 points against his former Leafs teammates.