Final 2 Games of the 2018-19 Regular Season this Weekend
April 4, 2019 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Philadelphia Rebels News Release
Jamestown Rebels (34-16-5-3, 76pts) vs. Johnstown Tomahawks (46-8-3-1, 96pts)
at Northwest Arena in Jamestown, NY
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Broadcast: HockeyTV
What You Need to Know:
Season Series: 3-4-2-1
Leading Scorers:
JMT: 55pts, Frye (29g-26a)
JHT: 88pts, Briere (44g-44a)
THE END IS NEAR:
Of the regular season that is... Both these teams will be in the playoffs come next weekend. The Rebels know who their opponent will be but as for the Tomahawks they might have to wait until the very last game of the regular season to be played. That game will be played on Sunday between the New Jersey Titans and the Northeast Generals. Johnstown could find out sooner though, depending on if Wilkes-Barre losses on Friday or Northeast wins on Saturday. The Rebels and Tomahawks have had to go into overtime for the past three games to decide a winner. Jamestown has only won one of those. The two games Johnstown has won they have scored within the last minute of regulation to send it to OT. There is also a potential for these two teams to meet in the 2nd round of the 2019 Robertson Cup Playoffs, so this weekend will most certainly have a playoff atmosphere to it.
SOMETHING SPECIAL:
Special teams for the 'Hawks have been a huge key to their success this season. They have the fourth best power-play percentage in the league (27.1%). They also have the most power-play opportunities (284) along with the most power-play goals (77). This weekend the Tomahawks have a chance to do something they have never been able to do and that is to be crowned the Regular Season Champion. They are only two points ahead of the Amarillo Bulls and if the Tomahawks sweep the Rebels, they will not only have the best record in the NAHL for the 2018-19 season, but they will also have 100 points, something that has only been done twice in the last 15 years.
LAST LINE OF DEFENSE:
Jamestown has one of the best goaltending duos in the league. They are one of two teams to have both goalies ranked in the top-10 in goals-against-average. On top of that, Ryan Keane was named runner-up for goalies through the month of March (3-1, 1.25GAA, .955SV%), he is currently the second-best goalie in the league. The Rebels have allowed the second-fewest goals in the league (127), giving them the fifth best record in the league. The Rebels automatically have a higher chance of winning the game with either one of their goalies in between the pipes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
REBELS (F: #27 - Alex Frye)
Frye leads the Rebels in scoring (29g-26a) and was just named honorable mention for forwards for the month of March (11gp-4g-8a). The Hudsonville, MI native is in his last season of junior hockey before he heads to the University of Alaska Anchorage (WCHA, D1). Frye has already shattered his previous career-highs in goals (19), assists (13), and points (32) which he set when he was with the Topeka Roadrunners in 2016-17. His ten power-play assists, seven game-winning goals, +/- 35, and two short-handed goals are all team-highs. Alex is also one of only four players to have played in all 58 games for the Rebels this season. Frye has played in all ten games between the Rebels and Tomahawks this season and has put up five points (3g).
TOMAHAWKS (F: #22 - Cameron Hebert)
Hebert recorded 12 points last month (2g-10a) with three of those points coming during his team's 9-2 victory over Maryland on Saturday. The Ontario native is averaging a point-per-game against the Rebels during their ten games thus far (6g). Cameron is committed to Robert Morris University (Atlantic Hockey, D1). He is third on the team in points (26g-51a), second in power-play goals (16), and assists (26). Hebert was selected 5th overall by the Tomahawks in the 2018 NAHL Entry Draft after the Tomahawks finished 20th in the league that season. The Tomahawks went 5-2-2 during March and will be looking to Hebert to get them back on track in time for playoffs.
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North American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2019
- Final 2 Games of the 2018-19 Regular Season this Weekend - Philadelphia Rebels
- Bulls Visit Odessa to Close Regular Season Before Playoffs - Amarillo Bulls
- Quick Hits: NAHL Game 59 Preview - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
- NAHL Announces Monthly Player Awards for March 2019 - NAHL
- End of the Regular Season at Minnesota - Aberdeen Wings
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