Howell Impresses Their Way Through Early Season Play

By Brian Deakyne, staff editor

Despite the growing success for the 2010 Howell Rebels, it must be understood that those games were expected victories.

After two years of not earning too much respect, Howell has rolled through their first three games with relative ease, but that is something that was expected, both from the fan-base all the way through to the bench.

Head coach Bill Daley, in his third year and pushing his 40th career win, demands as close to perfection as he can achieve from a team of this talent level.

For the first time in the three years, this Rebels' team has proven to be deeper than any team in the past and has the skill on defense that they've never had, previously, as well.

Besides Kevin Gaskill, who graduated in 2009, Daley has played forwards such as Eddie Pyskaty on the blue-line, just for some skill back there. Now, with freshman Trevor Hueser busting big on the varsity scene, there's no reason for something like that--making Howell's offensive attack that much more balanced.

With a first line of Mike Liero, Pyskaty and Michael Kochenash--each of which has scored a goal in each game and has at least 8 points so far in the season--there's really no telling in how far Howell will go.

While Daley is extremely impressed with the way the first line has performed in every phase of the game, he can't help but notice the positive play from third-liners, Frankie Gerbasi in particular. The freshman has displayed terrific hockey sense, and scored his first career goal on Wednesday night, looking strong throughout the game.

Jon Glover and Matt Morelli have looked good as well on defense, complimenting Hueser well.

In net, three-year starter Zack Peras has turned away 31 of 33 shots, with three wins and a shutout, something that has become almost expected of the junior goaltender.

Coming up, Howell will take on Wall in a rivalry that has turned many pages in the short two years they have played each other. Since the Rebels' rallied to win the Dowd Cup two years ago, Wall has been out to get Howell. Last season, Brandon Hodes scored the game-winning goal in the final minutes as the boys in blue took the game 2-1. Look for a game filled with hard hits as Wall head coach Mike Dianora isn't all too fond of the Rebels.

It's going to be tough, but no one wants to look past Wall and towards Middletown South. Probably the game of the year against arguably two of the top Shore Conference teams, that battle will be fun to watch on Dec. 21. For now, however, the Rebels have enough on their plate as they go from mediocre to one of the best publics in the state.