Rebels end short losing skid
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by Rick Kupchuk
After a pair of 7-6 losses on the weekend, the Surrey Rebels upended the New Westminster Salmonbellies 12-10 Monday night to reclaim second place in the West Coast Junior Lacrosse League.
The Junior B team was coming off a loss to the 'Bellies Saturday afternoon in Gibsons, and a defeat on the road Sunday night to the Port Coquitlam Saints.
Curt Callard, who missed both weekend games, tallied three times and set up four others Monday in the Cloverdale Arena, while Tommy Tran contributed with three goals and a pair of helpers. Chris Martin had a five-point night, scoring twice, while Sean O'Beirn and Bobby Tammen also notched two goals each. Travis Voisey finished the contest with three assists.
Martin netted the winner with just under three minutes to play, and Voisey added some insurance insurance with 77 second left, stealing the ball from a New Westminster opponent then scoring on a breakaway.
The absence of three of their top five scorers hurt the Rebels Saturday.
Surrey trailed 3-2 after one period, but managed to take a 5-3 lead into the final 20 minutes. Jeff Geyer was a standout in the Surrey goal, stopping all 25 shots he faced in the middle frame to allow the Rebels to take the lead.
Martin with two, Tammen, Matt Clarke, Cam Fielding and Voisey tallied for Surrey. Intermediate call-up Brad Olson was the top point-getter, collecting three assists. Other helpers were recorded by Tammen, Voisey, Clarke, Spencer Ovenden and goaltender Geyer.
The Rebels were outshot 60-33, scoring twice on four powerplays, while killing off three of four shorthanded situations.
It was the same story Sunday night in Port Coquitlam, where the Saints took advantage of an opponent with just 10 runners available, and eked out a one-goal win.
The Saints outshot Surrey 17-8 in the opening 20 minutes, and after netting a pair of powerplay goals early in the second period enjoyed a 5-1 lead. Martin got the lone Surrey goal.
The Rebels took the game over in the last part of the period, getting two more goals from Martin, and one each from Richard Thomsen, Tran and Voisey.
But that was it for Surrey, which ran out of gas in the third period. The Saints tied the contest with 15 minutes to play, then netted the winner with just two minutes left.
After the weekend, Surrey is at 10-3-1 (won-lost-tied), one point ahead of Port Moody and one behind the first place Coquitlam Adanacs.
