The Rebels Hockey Academy established early dominance and weathered a chaotic, penalty-strewn contest to secure a 5-2 victory over the Saints Pro Hockey Academy. The game's tone was set in a chippy first period, where the Rebels outshot the Saints 17-13 and built a crucial two-goal lead. Dominik Rhode opened the scoring just 37 seconds in, assisted by Memphis Belanger. The lead doubled later in the period when Kash Dreger found the back of the net, with Maxwell Menzies picking up the helper. The period was marred by a series of infractions, including a major cross-check from the Saints' Jack Kronewitt, signaling the physical battle to come.
The middle frame saw the penalty box door swing open constantly, with both teams taking majors and misconducts. The Rebels' Kash Dreger took a five-minute cross-checking major early, while the Saints saw Porter Marvin and the Rebels' Gunner Bohning each receive a minor and a ten-minute misconduct for illegal checks to the head. Despite the parade to the box, neither team could convert on the power play in the second period, with Rebels goalie Ryder Sandboe and his Saints counterpart, Madden Stasiak, holding firm under sporadic pressure. The game remained 2-0 heading into the third, but the dam was about to break.
The final period erupted with five goals and a staggering escalation in penalties. Cash Pederson scored what would stand as the game-winner for the Rebels early in the third, assisted by Bohning and Kobe Chalifoux. Ethan Dyck followed shortly after to make it 4-0, seemingly putting the game out of reach. The Saints showed a late spark as Ivan Rawluk and Jack Wheeler scored quick goals to cut the deficit to 4-2, assisted by Gabriel Dickinson and Cameron Starrett respectively. However, any momentum was snuffed out by a relentless wave of penalties, including a match penalty for a cross-check by the Saints' Liam Shoquist. On the ensuing power play, Kobe Chalifoux sealed the Rebels' victory with a goal, assisted by Belanger and Pederson. Rebels netminder Ryder Sandboe earned the win with a 29-save performance, while the Saints' penalty-filled third period, which included a bench minor and multiple game misconducts, ultimately sealed their fate in a game more remembered for its physicality than its finesse.
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