“WE’RE READY TO ROCK – I LIKED THE WAY WE PLAYED”

By Lee Samuels

Las Vegas – The UNLV Rebels turned it up on the ice in all three periods in their annual Scarlet vs Grey scrimmage before a crowd jammed packed into the City National Arena on Friday night.

Team Scarlet 4, Team Gray 1 was the final score. The intra-squad game had an electric feel to it as the Rebels skated hard, checked hard and got a great effort from their goalies Erik Eidissen and Dorian Labranche. 

“I liked every second of what we saw tonight,” said UNLV head coach Anthony Greener. “We played hard, we’re ready, we feel very confident going into the new season.”

Plus hometown defenseman freshman Jake McKenna of Las Vegas scored on a long snapshot early in the game. Jake, a top defenseman for the WSHL Las Vegas Storm and the WSHL Valencia Flyers, is now officiallly a Rebel. “He really really wanted to play for us and that is exactly what’s he going to be doing this season,” Greener said.

There were a number of new, exciting Rebels including defenseman #28 Matt Reyes who has size and plays a skilled, hard game with speed. The Rebels #24 Jayson DiMizio’s name was checked off by a scout attending the game. D-man of the Year last season Eric Wlliams did his ultra-skilled work at a high level – just like he did last season when he was one of the best defensemen in all of ACHA D1. #11 David Sovik had a good edge to his game when he carried the puck. Eidissen, in the net, played spectacuarly.

From the Blue Line – Wally Lacroix was head referee. Last season Wally’s AA Vegas Jr Golden Knights 16u won a U.S. National Championship – a phenominal accomplishment…Ryan Townsend was on the officiating crew as well as Justin Grossman.  Justin, years ago, was an enforcer teamed with Sean Darby, on a 2001-02 Rob Pallin-coached AA Las Vegas Mustangs 18u team which won a Pacific District Championship and played in the U.S. Nationals…Ryan Townsend is one of the best officials on a national level…That was Chris Rial of Las Vegas on the bench as acting head coach (the Rebels coaches watched the game from an elevated spot) for the Scarlet team….Youth hockey coach Matt Johnson, whose AA Vegas Jr Golden Knights 14u won a silver medal in the U.S. Nationals last winter, was on location checking out the action – and there was plenty of that…Officially the Rebels open their season here against Colorado University – a great rival for years – here at City National Arena on Friday, September 13.

UNLV Rebels Goals 

Jake McKenna, snapshot from right side for Team Gray

Orion Linnehan, Team Scarlet

Orion Linnehan, Team Scarlet

Jayson Dimizio, Team Scarlet

Paxton Malone, Team Scarlet