The Prince Rupert Rampage returned to the ice this weekend, getting their first and as things turned out only taste of post season action. That as a highly motivated team out of Hazelton took the Best of Three series with a 2-0 sweep, the clinching game coming on Rampage home ice on Saturday.
The Rampage who had a lengthy break owing to their first place finish in the West were up against a scrappy Hazelton team that made their entry into the playoffs by way of a Wild Card Playoff victory hast week over Kitimat.
The scoring groove that they found against the Ice Demons continued into their first match up Friday night with the Rampage at the Hazelton Ice Arena, a game one matchup that didn't see the Rampage get on the score sheet until the final minutes of the first period.
Hunter Atchison and Kory Movold combined for their ice breaker for the 2023 playoffs at 18:27 of the first, the goal putting the teams even after 20 minutes of Game One.
Hazelton would build a lead into the second, the Rampage pulling to within one goal with two goals midpoint of period two.
Hunter Johnson picked up goal number two for the Rhino's, assisted by Hunter Atchinson and Kory Movold at 8:44, Reid Lindsay had goal number three on the night for the Rampage a few minutes later assisted by Hunter Atchinson and Kory Movold.
The Prince Rupert side tied things up early in the final frame with Hunter Johnson scoring, an assist going to Reid Lindsay.
However, the hometown Wolverines brought an end to any thoughts of a game one victory for the Rampage with a pair of goals to secure the Friday night win by a score of 6-4.
The two teams combined to spend close to 60 minutes in the penalty box on Friday night, the Rampage serving 30 minutes on 11 infractions, the Wolverines 20 minutes on 10 infractions.
That put the Wolverines into the drivers seat for the series, needing just one win over a potential two games to steal away a major upset in the CIHL West.
The Hazelton side made economical use of their trip west, taking the series in two games with a hard fought (literally) Saturday night win, though it meant a bit of extra time before they would knock off the top dogs in the West.
The Rampage knew they were in deep early on, with three Hazelton goals in the first period of play, the only answer for the first frame coming at 14:11 when Reid Lindsay scored a power play marker, assisted by Judd Repole and Kory Movold.
The Second period was a physical one featuring a parade of players to the penalty box and no scoring activity, other than some of the on ice scores getting settled.
The physicality of the middle period did seem to give the Rampage some extra jump in the final period, two goals midway through the period brought the teams even at 3-3.
The markers going to Kory Movold who scored at 8:58 assisted by Jared Meers.
Reid Lindsay raised the roof at the Jim five and half minutes later scoring the equalizer on the night, assisted by Kory Movold.
The two teams battled it out through the final five minutes to send the matchup to Overtime.
That was a short lived bit of bonus hockey, with the Wolverines ending the Rampage season off the stick of Scott Docherty.
His winning marker at 3:02 sending the Hazelton side on deeper into the CIHL Playoffs and dashing the hopes for a Rampage run for the Coy Cup for 2023.
The physical play of Friday continued into the Saturday night contest, the two teams familiarity boiling over for 64 minutes of penalty time. The Wolverines were assessed 30 minutes on 11 infractions, the home side Rampage spent 34 minutes in the penalty box based on 13 infractions.
The Rampage saluted their fans at games end, that following a remarkable season that saw the team take charge of the CIHL West, coming close to an overall top seeding, the disappointment of an early exit noted in their farewell to the fans for 2023.
While the score sheet didn't end up the way Rampage fans wanted, the team's success off the ice is beyond wins and losses. Their work in community a blue print for many other teams in many sports to take study of.
Saturday night brought the final tally of their Hockey Fights Cancer fundraising with the team saluting its fans and supporters and team sponsors for a remarkable total of 107,000 dollars from those efforts.
The team also helped propel the Goals for Giving Hope program over the 5,000 dollar mark, that saw 100 dollars donated by the Prince Rupert Port Authority for every home goal scored by the Rampage in the 2022-23 season. That money goes to the Salvation Army for their ongoing program.
This past season also saw the Rampage develop initiatives for the Prince Rupert Minor Basketball program, Prince Rupert Minor Hockey and the Everyone Can Play program.
While the Rampage make their plans for the 2023-24 season, the CIHL playoffs move forward this coming weekend.
The Wolverines move on to their next challenge a showdown with the Terrae River Kings, the Terrace side had a convincing sweep of the Smithers Steelheads over the weekend, setting up what should be a high scoring and physical weekend ahead.
In the East Division it will be showdown between the Nechako North Stars and Quesnel Kangaroos, that following a North Stars sweep of the Williams Lake Stampeders in their divisional playoff series.
More notes on an entertaining season for the Rampage and other CIHL themes can be explored through our archive page.
No comments:
Post a Comment