 The Rebels finished first place in the southern division, won two playoff series, and finished runners-up in the 1973 EHL finals.In 1973, the Rebels became a charter team in the Southern Hockey League due to travel costs to the multiple northern teams in the EHL for the 1973–74 season.Pilling stayed on as coach and the team roster featured eleven French Canadians, including the league's most valuable player, Claude Piche.