The Rebels Hockey Academy seized control early and weathered a furious Spartan comeback to secure a 5-3 road victory in a game defined by special teams and a chaotic third period. The Rebels struck twice in the first period, with Jack Clement opening the scoring just 47 seconds into the game and Kaden Cameron adding another at the 10:08 mark to put the Spartans on their heels. Spartan Hockey Academy found their footing in the second period, capitalizing on two power plays. Jagger Zatzek and Sawyer Tams both found the back of the net with the man advantage, with Tams scoring in the final minute of the period to tie the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.
The third period erupted into a wild sequence of goals and penalties. Rebels' Barrett Nellis broke the tie early, but the Spartans responded on the power play once more, with George Belandis knotting the game at 3-3. The deadlock lasted a mere 20 seconds, however, as Blake Carruthers answered immediately for the Rebels to score what would stand as the game-winning goal. Kaden Cameron sealed the victory with his second of the night just 19 seconds after that, completing a stunning three-goal flurry in under a minute. The period was marred by a parade to the penalty box, with the Rebels' Barrett Nellis taking three minors alone, but the Spartan power play could only convert once more despite the opportunities.
Despite being outshot 25-17, the Rebels' efficiency and timely scoring proved decisive. Kaden Cameron's two-goal performance paced the visitors, while Barrett Nellis contributed a goal despite his penalty trouble. For the Spartans, a relentless 13-shot third-period assault fell short, with the late-game defensive breakdowns proving too costly to overcome. The game served as a testament to the Rebels' resilience, as they withstood the Spartan surge and capitalized on their chances to skate away with the win.
