The Rebels swept the Arizona Wildcats at home to make its record improve to 8-1-0 record.
The team held their annual “pink the rink” for breast cancer awareness and Halloween costume contest Friday night. Awareness was raised for breast cancer along with the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
Game One
The Rebels kicked off the hallo-weekend with a 3-2 win. The three stars of the night were Tristan Rand, Bradley Golant, and Robert McCollum.
The Rebels started forwards Max Johnson, Cole Wyatt, Bradley Golant, defensemen Matthias Dal Monte, Jake Berry, and goaltender Zach Wickson. The Wildcats started forwards Jesse Lowell, Trystan Swiger, Eddie Slack, defensemen Nicholas Chiocca, Luke Busby, and goaltender Nicklas Sepannen.
Physicality quickly became a key component of the game, as both sides made big hits on each other. Despite the physical activity, no penalties were drawn within the first period.
Bradley Golant kicked off the scoring with a goal, assisted by Cole Wyatt and Max Johnson, at 16:53 in the first period.
Tristan Rand closed out the first period with a goal to extend the Skatin’ Rebel lead to 2-0 with 5.3 seconds left, assisted by Nick Flanders and Mason Kelly.
The Rebel’s 2-0 lead reflected in the shot column, outshooting the Wildcats 12-5 in the first period.
Robert McCollum opened the second period scoring with a goal with 2:20 left in the period. His goal was assisted by Heath Mensch and Caleb Strong.
Cole Wyatt and Luke Busby were both sent to the penalty box at 19:26, Wyatt for slashing and Busby for cross-checking.
Arizona was put on the board with a goal from Brian Ericsson to cut the Wildcat deficit to 3-1.
The physical activity picked up in the third period as more penalties were drawn.
Luke Burke earned three penalties, which led to a game misconduct. His penalties were for holding, checking from behind, and a roughing misconduct.
Dal Monte once again was sent to the box for roughing.
Lowell and Connor Ziegler both took minor penalties for cross-checking.
Lowell added one to Arizona’s tally with a goal, unassisted, with 13 seconds left in the period.
The goal was too little too late as the Rebels held onto the 3-2 lead for the remainder of regulation, earning the win while outshooting the Wildcats 32-31.
Game Two
The Rebels finished the series sweep with a 3-1 win against the Wildcats. Max Johnson, Cole Wyatt and Mattias Dal Monte earned the three stars of the night.
The Rebels started forwards Burke, Strong and Mensch, defensemen Hunter Muzzillo and Jaxsen Wyatt, and goaltender Vinny Benedetto. The Wildcats started forwards Williams, Swiger and Lowell, defensemen Chiocca and Busby, and goaltender Sepannen.
The game was more physical than the last, with a total of 21 penalties.
Arizona committed penalties leading to them killing the penalty box in the first period, while the Rebels put themselves on the board.
Williams put himself in the box for tripping at 5:57, while Tristan Rand scored the first goal of the game with assists from Cole Wyatt and Dylan Ford, putting the Rebels on the board.
Will Josephson added to Arizona’s penalties at 11:34, with a minor penalty for roughing.
The Rebels once again controlled the offensive zone time outshooting the Wildcats 17-6 in the first period and went into intermission leading 1-0.
The second period was filled with penalties, with the Rebels taking seven penalties, and the Wildcats took six.
Muzzillo was sent to the box first for tripping. Then, a scuffle broke out between both teams leading to three players from each team being sent to the box for roughing.
Later in the period Robert McCollum earned a game misconduct for fighting and roughing.
Arizona’s Eddie Slack put the Wildcats on the board with 7:27, remaining in the second period.
The Rebels still dominated the shots, with 13 shots on goal, while the Wildcats had four.
The Rebels bounced back with two goals in the third period, leading the way to the win.
Arizona’s Jerrett Overland took a two-minute minor penalty for hooking at 4:19 in the third period, which led to a goal from Max Johnson, assisted by Dal Monte and Wyatt, 19 seconds later.
Mensch finished the scoring with another power play goal, assisted by Muzzillo and Cole Wyatt.
The Rebels dominated the Wildcats in shots, as the Cats were outshot 50-21 throughout the game.
Up Next
The Rebels face off against the San Diego State Aztecs on Nov. 2 and 3 at City National Arena. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m on Thursday and at 11:59 p.m on Friday for their annual midnight madness game. Tickets are free with a student ID.
