BAULKHAM HILLS -- Sunday night the Sting were defeated by the Rebels who are currently showing some of their best form since the team’s inception in 2010. The final score was 6-3 to the rebels, which is the same score line of the previous game between these two teams, in which Sting were victors. And the first game between Sting and Rebels was a 5-5 tie. So with the series record level at one win and one tie each, even the total goals are identical at 14 apiece.
Sting were short staffed for this game, missing 3 forwards and 3 defensemen; but with their numbers bolstered by call ups Lukas Vaic, Kane Spence and James Marino, the Sting were well positioned to be competitive against the team currently leading the ECSL. And the start by Sting was strong when Vaic scored with an accurate wrist shot from the top of the right circle just two minutes into the first period, with the last pass coming Scott Connelly. This would be the only time that Sting would lead throughout the evening. A fast counter attack came from the Rebels, as Chris Shepherd scored two minutes later, with assistance from Bryan Costa. From that point on, Rebels would add another three goals in the first period, courtesy of Costa from Yucca Reinecke and Daniel Pataky, Alex Witts from Casey Kubara and Jimmy Dufour, and a shorthanded effort by Shepherd.
Things settled down somewhat in the second period as Sting managed to regain their composure. There was no scoring in the second term, but there were plenty of quality chances for both teams, with the Rebels edging out Sting in the shot count 7-6, compared with the first period when Rebels outshot Sting by a huge margin of 15-5.
The third period was also a close encounter, with each team scoring two goals. Once again, Vaic scored early in the period, just one minute into play; and Spence cleaned up a rebound to score six and a half minutes remaining with assistance from Paul Smith and Vaic. These two tallies brought Sting within one goal of tying the game, and there were a few good opportunities for Sting to complete the comeback. But when Jason Haynes scored with assistance from brother Michael Haynes and Jason Kvisle, and Reinecke added his second with help from John Lavery and Michael Haynes, the win for the Rebels was secured.
Unlike the previous match between these two teams, this game was one of the cleanest and fairest so far in 2014. Only two minor penalties were handed out to the Rebels, and Sting remained off the penalty summary altogether. The Rebels should be congratulated on this achievement, and hopefully they are able to maintain this level of probity for the remainder of the season.
Sting have another bye next weekend, and will return to competition on Sunday 27th July when they are hosted by Heat at the Sydney Ice Arena in Baulkham Hills at 8.30pm. This will be Sting’s last game against Heat during the regular season. The team in red will be looking to take a win from Sting, who have beaten them twice and tied once in 2014.
