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Regular Season
Game #1 - 10/20, 1pm - Away vs Polar Cats
The Rebels re-grouped, after taking the summer off, to play 3-on-3
hockey for the 2001 Fall season. Contrary to previous reports,
the league did not pool players to create teams. Thus, the Rebels
are back for this season as a unified team.
The Polar Cats scored the first two goals of the period before
Carol H. scored to only have the Rebels trail 2-1 going into
the break.
Traci began the second period with a goal to give the Rebels
a 2-2 tie. The Polar Cats later scored to move ahead but Tanya
tied the game at 3-3 on a setup pass from Joan. Tanya then
gave the Rebels their first lead of the game, 4-3, before the Polar
Cats ended the game with three unanswered goals of their own.
Game #2 - 10/27, 1pm - HOME vs Polar Cats
The Polar Cats took an early 2-0 lead before Carol
scored the Rebels first goal of the period. The Polar Cats scored
again but their two goal lead quickly faded as Karen and
Carol tallied goals to pull the Rebels into a 3-3 tie at the end
of the first period.
Carol gave the Rebels their first lead of the game with her hat
trick score early into the second period on a cross ice setup
pass from Joan. Both teams exchanged a pair of goals each
(Karen and Jeanne for the Rebels) as the tempo increased
with the Rebels leading 6-5 more than half way into the period.
In the closing minutes of the game, the Polars Cats recaptured
the lead at 7-6 however Carol's fourth goal ended the game in a
7-7 tie.
Betsie and Christin anchored the defense or began
the offensive attacks as the game called for it while Claire
played tough in net and stopped the game's lone penalty shot.
10/27, 2pm - HOME vs Spitfire
An exhausted Rebels bench prepared for their second game of the day
as Ruth arrived for the subbing Karen. Hockey WorkOut offered an
extra (and fresh) player to the team in Christina.
The Rebels began the game scoring on a goal from Betsie for
the early lead. As the period continued on, both teams appeared
to be playing cautiously as skating was either between the face-off
circles or the puck was tied up along the boards. The Spitfire
ended the period with two goals to take a 2-1 lead into the break.
The strong defensive play continued in the second period as the puck
had an equally tough task in trying to touch the back of the nets.
In the end, a clean shot and a deflected shot provided more than
enough for the Spitfire to get a 4-1 victory over the Rebels.
11/03, 1pm - Away at Spitfire
The Rebels played today's game like the Sharks have played over
the past week: The first two goals of the game were scored by
Traci and Joan but trailed at the end of the first
period 4-2 to the Spitfire.
Spitfire scored their fifth unanswered goal to make it 5-2 early
in the second period. Then the Rebels began to rally back as
Christin began the charge with a shot over the glove side
of the moving Spitfire goaltender, Theo. Next, Carol
pulled the Rebels within one on her team leading sixth goal of
the season. Finally, Traci scored the game tying goal
near the end of the period to end the game at 5-5.
Betsie and Jeanne continued their solid play at
defense, tight board work and offensive support to give Claire
the needed time to put in another strong effort in the Rebels' net.
11/10, 2pm - HOME vs Polar Cats
The Rebels started the scoring early with goals by Jeannie
and Traci to take an early 2-0 lead over the Polar
Cats. The Polar Cats countered with their lone goal of
the period before Joetta and Tina extended the
Rebels' lead to 4-1.
Solid game play by Betsie and Joan (skating out),
while Claire minded the nets, kept the Rebels in the game
as the team tried to work through its offensive minded only
tendancies to hold on to its scoring lead.
Meanwhile, the Polar Cats began the second period with two goals
to make the score 4-3 before Joetta scored her second goal of the
game. The Polar Cats continued to rallied by scoring the next
three goals to take a 6-5 lead. The Rebels' aggressive play
continued to take chances as Joetta scored her third goal of the
game for her first-ever hat trick and pulled the Rebels into a
6-6 tie.
Linda and J.J.'s "favorite ref" was watching the game, and with
a little help from the scorekeeper, managed to mess up the final
6-6 tie score (and GTG by Joetta) into a Polar Cats 7-6 win.
11/17, 1pm - Away at Spitfire
Christin volunteered to play for the short Spitfire
bench of four players and what a difference she made!
The Spitfire jumped out to a 3-0 lead, including a Christin score,
against the slow starting Rebels. Then Joan ended the
shutout on a setup pass from Carol. The Spitfire ended
the first period with a 4-1 lead.
The Rebels mounted a comeback in the second period on goals by
Linda and Jeanne to pull within a goal at 4-3.
Then Christin scored what turned out to be the game winning goal
for the Spitfire to end regulation at 5-3.
The Rebels had two penalty shots, versus one for the Spitfire,
to attempt to tie the score. Joan took the first shot and was
stopped as she attempted to move the goaltender left while trying
to shoot right over the glove side. Next, Traci moved
the puck up the ice for the Rebels' second penalty shot and scored
using a similiar move as Joan for the goal. The Spitfire's Jenn
ended the games scoring with a penalty shot to finalize the 6-4
win for the Spitfire.
11/17, 2pm - Away at Polar Cats
The Rebels second game of the day had Christin returning
to the team's bench to be the sparkplug for the team's scoring.
The Polar Cats' two unanswered goals finally had a Rebels'
challenge by a Christin goal to make the score 2-1 going into
the period break.
The Rebels' defense found its groove as it prevented the opposition
from scoring in a period for the first time in seven games. The
rejuvenated offense was rolling as well as it exploded for five
goals in one period for the first time in seven games. Christin
tied the game at 2-2 before Linda scored the game winner to
give the Rebels its first lead of the day at 3-2. Next, Christin
scored her hat trick goal before Traci had setup Tanya
on her first goal of the day to make the score a three goal lead
for the Rebels. Traci ended the game's scoring with a goal late in
the period to easily secure a 6-2 Rebels' victory.
Outstanding defense and passing support by Carol, Jeanne
and Joan made Claire's work in the nets easy for the
first time in several periods. This clearly was the Rebels best effort
to date during the Fall 2001 season.
12/01, 2pm - HOME vs Spitfire
A cold, rainy day greeting everyone including the Rebels and the
visiting Spitfire. The weather quickly became a distant
memory as the puck dropped for the opening face-off. By mid-period,
the Spitfire had a 3-0 lead. Before the first period ended, the
Rebels managed to pull within a single goal on scores by Traci
and Carol H.
The second period began in similiar fashion as the first with
the Spitfire scoring twice to reclaim a three goal 5-2 lead. Then
the Rebels began to battle back on goals by Carol S. and
Carol H. to make the score 5-4. The Spitfire scored in an attempt
to slowdown the comeback. However, the Rebels' passing game kicked
in as Carol H. setup Traci for her second goal of the game. Minutes
later, Traci returned the favor with a cross ice pass to a waiting
Carol S. game tying goal to make the score 6-6.
With the second period nearing its close, the Spitfire scored to
take the lead but Carol H. scored her hat trick goal of the game
on a setup pass from Jeanne to tie the game at 7-7. Meanwhile,
Joan and Ruth battled for the puck to help control
the neutral zone as Claire batted away shots in the Rebels'
net.
The game in a regulation tied but due to a Rebels' hooking penalty
earlier in the second period, the Spitfire were given a chance to
get take a penalty shot. Karen scored on the game's only penalty
shot for the Spitfire and their 8-7 victory over the Rebels.
12/08, 1pm - Away at Polar Cats
The Polar Cats took advantage of the slow starting Rebels
with a fast 5-0 lead on smart passes and quick skating. Traci
broke up the shutout with the Rebels' first goal of the game. The
Rebels' second goal of the period came from a hard skating Christin.
The first period ended with the Polar Cats in control of the scoreboard,
8-2.
Jeanne started the goal scoring in the second period for the
Rebels. Then, Ruth skated in on net and shot the puck. The
resulting rebound popped out to a waiting Carol for the Rebels'
second tally of the period making the score 8-4. The Polar Cats scored
the next three goals before getting a tripping penalty. Carol and
Jeanne scored the final two goals of the period as regulation ended
with the Polar Cats leading 11-6.
Carol took the lone penalty shot which was successfully blocked by
the Polar Cats netminder.
12/15, 1pm - HOME vs Spitfire
The Rebels hosted the division winning Spitfire for the
final game of the regular season. The Spitfire scored the first
goal of the game to take an early lead. Then Jeanne tied
the game 1-1 on a rebound shot from Ruth.
The second period had both teams issued penalties before Jenn
scored the final three goals for the Spitfire to take a 4-1
lead into the penalty shot round.
Cara blocked the Spitfire's lone penalty shot while Jeanne
scored for the Rebels to finalize the score 4-2 in favor of the
Spitfire.
Round Robin Playoffs
12/15, 2pm - Game 1: Polar Cats vs Rebels --
The first playoff game of the Round Robin Playoffs had the Rebels
(1-7-2, 4 pts) hosting the second place Polar Cats (5-4-1,
11 pts).
Linda began the game's scoring for the Rebels. Then the
Polar Cats' Vikki scored the next four goals by skating around
and through the Rebels' defense to take a 4-1 lead into the break.
After catching their breathes from the break, the Rebels re-grouped
to assault the opposition's net. Linda started the second period
scoring followed by two Christin goals to tie the game at 4-4.
Then the Rebels scored to take their first lead of the game on a
Traci setup pass to Linda for her hat trick goal of the game.
The Polar Cats tied the game at 5-5 after two penalties were called
on the Rebels. Next, Carol H. powered in two goals to give
the Rebels a 7-5 lead before the Polar Cats countered with a goal of
their own.
Meanwhile, Carol S., Jeanne and Joan were taking
turns quarterbacking the offense, crashing the net, breaking up passes
or tying up bodies to keep the Polar Cats off balance.
Finally, the Rebels had to face three penalty shots. Cara rose
to the challenge and stopped all three shot attempts to preserve the
7-6 victory for the Rebels in their first game of the Round Robin Playoffs.
01/05, 1pm - Game 2: Rebels at Spitfire --
The second playoff game of the HTHL 2001 Fall season's Round Robin
play featured the visiting Rebels against the season ending first
place Spitfire.
The Rebels scored first on a goal from Linda setup on a pass
from Carol S. The Spitfire quickly responded to the challenge
by scoring the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead. Linda tied the
game 2-2 for the Rebels with her second goal of the period. However,
this prompted the Spitfire to end the first period with three goal
rally and to take a 5-2 lead into the break.
The Spitfire pushed their lead to four with a score early into the
second period. Linda scored her hat trick goal of the day with a
sweet 5-hole shot. Traci made the score 6-4 on a quick setup
pass by Carol S. The Spitfire ended the scoring with a final goal
to win the game 7-4.
The second game had the short-benched Polar Cats suffering a
7-4 loss to the Spitfire. With the Spitfire obtaining their second
win of the Round Robin play, it guaranteed the Spitfire the home
bench against the Rebels in the championship game.
01/12, 1pm -- Championship Game --
Cinderella Team Plays Near Perfect
On paper, the Rebels were not expected to be in the Championship
game with only one win from the regular season. Meanwhile, the
Spitfire, ending the regular season with a five game unbeatened
streak, should be hosting the big game without question. The new
round robin play for the playoffs proved to be half true: The
Spitfire arrived as expected with two wins while the Rebels surprised
all with a 1-1 record.
From the beginning drop of the puck, the Rebels switched between a tight
man on man to zone defense as the game flow offered. The game's first
goal came from Linda to give the Rebels a 1-0 early lead. As
the first period continued, Carol H. doubled the Rebels' lead
to 2-0. If you were looking for Jeanne, she was everywhere:
Either defending the Rebels' zone or up leading the attack on the net.
The second period had the Spitfire trying to speed up the game's tempo.
Soon the Spitfire crashed the Rebels' net with a shot bouncing off of
the pads and falling at Cara's feet. As she scrambled to look
for the hidden puck, a Spitfire stick poked in the puck to trim the
score to 2-1. Linda regained the Rebels' two goal lead with a curl
behind the Rebels' net, skating coast to coast and firing in a shot
on net. Joan, scoring the eventual game winner, Christin
and Traci scored goals to push the game score to 6-1.
As the clock was winding down through its final minute, two quick goals
were scored by the Spitfire to make the final score 6-3. Mental lapse?
Maybe. Bad line change? Very Possible. Thinking about the Championship
trophy? Most Likely.
The Rebels split time between two very good goaltenders but were last
in team scoring. However, when it counted, Cara's solid play between the
pipes picked up two wins in the final three games to earn the Rebels their
sixth championship title since the inception of the league. Team defense,
-12 in goal differential for the season, played near flawless hockey to
provide the offense time to shine when the opportunities to score arose.
In the end, the Rebels could not do any better as a team. They were
near perfect AND now the HTHL 2001 Fall Champions!
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HTHL 2001 Fall