Playoff Series Preview: Sting vs Rebellion

The PIHA Semi-Pro Metropolitan Division reaches the semifinal stage on Saturday, February 7, 2026, as the #2 seed Suffolk Sting square off with the #3 seed East Coast Rebellion in a best-of-three showdown at Rapid Fire Arena. With a berth in Sunday’s Metropolitan Final on the line, this matchup brings together two evenly matched contenders who split a trio of high-tempo regular-season meetings.

📅 Series Schedule — Rapid Fire Arena

• Game 1: Saturday, February 7 — 11:00 AM

• Game 2: Saturday, February 7 — 1:40 PM

• Game 3 (If Necessary): Saturday, February 7 — 4:20 PM

Winner advances to the Metropolitan Division Final on Sunday, February 8, to face the winner of the Long Island Snipers vs. Moriches Sting series.

🟡 #2 Suffolk Sting

Regular Season Record: 13-4-3

Suffolk enters the semifinals with balance and structure. Their offense is paced by Josh Weger (25 pts), while John Healy (21 pts) and Rick Seward (16 pts) provide consistent two-way contributions. The Healy brothers add flexibility—Dan Healy (12 pts in 7 GP) can tilt momentum quickly, and Zack O’Neil (12 pts) stabilizes shifts across the lineup.

Key to Victory:
Discipline and pace control. Suffolk is at its best when it limits penalties and plays north-south, forcing opponents to defend through layers rather than trading chances.

Potential Vulnerability:
High-event games. When contests open up, Suffolk can be drawn into track meets—an area where Rebellion’s top line thrives.

🔴 #3 East Coast Rebellion

Regular Season Record: 13-6-1

Rebellion brings elite firepower into the semifinal. Ryan Cotcamp (42 pts) headlines one of the league’s most dangerous attacks, flanked by Andrew Cetola (37 pts) and Troy Power (33 pts). Steve Drizis (30 pts) adds secondary scoring that keeps pressure constant, while Mike Cupolo (17 pts) rounds out a group capable of changing games in a shift.

Key to Victory:
Attack with speed and numbers. Rebellion excels when it stretches the floor and turns neutral-zone turnovers into quick strikes.

Potential Vulnerability:
Defensive coverage when pinned. Sustained zone time against can expose seams—especially if Suffolk’s forecheck forces extended shifts.

🤝 Head-to-Head (Regular Season)

• Jan 10: Rebellion 3, Suffolk 2

• Jan 10: Rebellion 5, Suffolk 4

• Dec 6: Suffolk 4, Rebellion 1

The season series favored Rebellion (2-1), but margins were slim—two one-goal games decided late, underscoring how tight this semifinal could be.

🔍 What to Expect

Expect tempo from the opening faceoff. Suffolk will look to compress the game with structure and smart puck management, while Rebellion aims to push pace and leverage its scoring depth. Special teams, line matchups, and in-game adjustments should play decisive roles as the series unfolds in a single day.

With contrasting styles and recent history, this semifinal has all the ingredients for a dramatic three-game set—and a worthy test for whoever advances to Sunday’s Metropolitan Final.