SEWELL, N.J. – The Elmira Aviators (21-27-5-4) put together a big response after being shut out on Saturday, flying past the Philadelphia Rebels (19-29-3-6) 6-1 at Hollydell Ice Arena Tuesday afternoon.
The mid-afternoon tilt was Elmira’s final away game of the 2025-26 season. It also wrapped a run of six consecutive road contests.
The Aviators needed to come up with a quick response after being swept this past weekend. The 6-0 loss left a sour taste in the mouth, and Elmira needed to start well at Philadelphia to avoid the end of the season spinning out of control.
The purple and black got off to an excellent start, rattling off four goals in the first period. Cody Powels, returning to the lineup last weekend after an extended absence, slotted two of them.
He started off with an excellent deflection on a Harald Humble shot, then got his second by parking in front of the goal unmarked and slotting home a pass from Nico Pohjola in the corner.
Powels’ goals sandwiched the prettiest Elmira score of the night.
The Aviators showed off their excellent transitional play as Brenden Bedorf sent Matthew Maglio on his way from the defensive zone. Maglio was then able to hit Evan Dantas as he entered the Philadelphia zone, blazing by defenders and finishing it off with a pristine forehand-backhand move.
Elmira went back to the dirty areas to finish off the quartet of goals. Jake Baratta batted home a Kevin Delaney shot on the doorstep to make it 4-0.
The Rebels responded with a power play goal before the period’s end, but the Aviators had already established a dominant start.
Elmira settled into a defensive, scoreless second period between the two sides. Aiden McKenna was solid in net all night, racking up 25 saves on 26 Philadelphia shots.
Then, to stunt any hope of a Rebels comeback, the Aviators added two more goals in the third period to make it 6-1.
Baratta got his second of the night on another assist from Delaney. Later, Bedorf, after getting his initial shot blocked, made a tremendous seam pass to Corson Maguire, who one-timed the puck into a gaping cage at the far post.
It was a complete performance from Elmira on Tuesday and a huge bounce back from a tough weekend in Massachusetts.
The Aviators will wrap up their season on home ice this weekend when they welcome their in-state rivals, the Rochester Jr. Americans, to the LECOM Event Center.
Game 1 is Friday, April 3, and Game 2 is Saturday, April 4. Both games are set for a 7 p.m. puck drop. Fans can stream the games on NATV or listen live on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].