Pack the bus, time for a Rampage Road Trip

Some long hours and many miles are on the weekend travel
agenda for the Prince Rupert Rampage

The Prince Rupert Rampage hit the road this week with twin dates ahead in the Cariboo as the Rhinos make for the once a year tour of the farthest reaches of the CIHL.

The November journey takes the team to Williams Lake for a Saturday night match up with the Stampeders, followed by a Sunday afternoon get together with the Quesnel Kangaroos.

For the first time in a few years now, the trip into Williams Lake may not be as daunting as in the past, with the Stampeders currently winless on the year, and a rather sedate squad in the physicality with but 22 minutes of penalty time served to date. 

Still, a team that has yet to win a game is always a dangerous one  and that will be on the mind of the Rampage as they pull into the Stampede City for Saturday's contest.

The Sunday match up could be something a tad more feisty however, with the Kangaroos currently nipping at the heels of the Rampage just below second spot in the standings and with 107 penalty minutes in their first four games. 

So a trip into Quesnel this season is probably one that doesn't come without a few challenges on the ice and some extra curricular post whistle activity.

Neither the Stamps or the Roos will be in a very good mood, having dropped two games each over the Halloween period at the hands of Hazelton and Terrace.

As they head into the double header weekend, the Rampage will be hoping that the hot hand of Hunter Johnson continues, currently third in CIHL scoring with 4 goals and 4 assists.

Austin Weir is right on his pace as well with seven points so far this year, six goals and one assist for his time on the ice, which has him in a three way tie for fourth spot on the scoring listings to date.

Kory Movold rounds out the Rampage scoring leaders in the top ten so far this year.

At the other end of the rink Kieran Sharpe has held the line nicely for the Rampage, taking to the nets in all four appearances so far, hosting a 3-1 record and 3.50 average, which currently ranks him in third spot in the goaltending listings.

He's been supported by a defensive corps that has improved with each game and now boats of the second best goals against listings at 14 on the season to date.

Game Times this weekend are at 7:30 Saturday night in Williams Lake and 1PM Sunday at the Quesnel Arena.

Once the Cariboo road trip is complete, the Rampage have the rest of the month for rest and practice, not seeing action again until a much anticipated showdown with the Terrace River Kings on December 11th at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.

The River Kings currently are undefeated on the year and will hope to build on that record when they hit the ice this weekend with games in Vanderhoof and Hazelton.

For notes on the Rampage road trek follow the team through their Facebook page.

A wider overview of the Rampage and the CIHL is available through our archive page.