Rampage Sweep their Cariboo visitors in weekend play, sit one back of Terrace in CIHL standings as end of regular season looms in February

Eight goals in less than 20 hours gave the Prince Rupert Rampage a sweep of weekend play in the CIHL with the home side shutting down the offences of both the Williams Lake Stampeders and the Quesnel Kangaroos.

The Rampage roll got underway fast and early on Saturday night with the beasts of the Cariboo hitting the ice for a showdown with the Rhinos, the Williams Lake side needing a few period to get their skating legs back.

Periods one and two were all Prince Rupert, with Brody Hemrich getting the offence in motion with a goal just two minutes into the game.  His marker at 1:56 assisted by Tyeler Matalone

Not more than ninety seconds later Hunter Johnson had a power play goal with Judd Repole and Reid Lindsay in with the helpers.

Thirty seconds later Austin Weir was on the score sheet, another power play marker, assists going to Judd Repole and Cole Atchison. 

That would make for all the scoring for period one, with the Rampage leaving behind a quite physical twenty minutes and heading into the intermission with a 3-0 lead.

Things didn't change much on the physical play in period two with more penalties called through the middle frame, the Rhinos however were held to just one goal, that at 10:49 when Hunter Johnson hit the back twine a short handed unassisted marker.

With a 4-0 lead going into the third, some might think that a rout was on, but the Cariboo side  stormed back in the final frame, scoring in the first minute of the third period, setting the stage for some frantic play as the Stamps clawed their way back to just a one goal deficit by the mid way point.

The Rampage then shut the door to the visitors insurrection, the final ten minutes marked by a number of minor and some Fighting majors as the game came to a 4-3 close.

Kieran Shape had the win turning aside 23 of the 26 shots he faced.

The Penalty parade saw the Rampage spend the most time in the penalty box, assessed 49 minutes on 16 infractions, with the Stamps serving 25 minutes on 12 infractions.

The entertaining match up provided for a full night for the 746 assembled at the Jim for the Saturday night showcase of CIHL hockey.

The full summary can be reviewed here.

Sunday, the Quesnel Kangaroos made the drive from their previous night in Terrace, set for the afternoon close to their Northwest swing.

The afternoon contest attracted a smaller crowd of 430, though those in attendance were treated to a full on Rampage scoring clinic.

The day started off with a Tyler Halliday power play goal, assisted by Reid Lindsay at 3:28 of the opening frame, making for the only goal in the first twenty minutes.

Period Two provided for the rest of the Rampage scoring plays on the day.

Hunter Johnson opened the middle frame scoring up at 10:15 with an assist for Tyler Halliday.

Six minutes later Kory Movold had a power play marker, with Judd Repole and Reid Lindsay providing the helpers.

The Rampage score sheet closed on the day at the 16:53 mark with Thomas Robinson getting the entry, assists went to Reid Lindsay and Drew Fudger.

There were no goals recored in the final period and the Kangaroos, though they did have some chances. 

Kieran Sharpe however said no chance, gaining the shut out by turning aside all 24 shots that the Kangaroos put on the net

Like the Rampage, the Kangaroos had physical game the night before, with the Cariboo side dropping a 5-3 decision to the River Kings.

The extra curricular post whistle activities for both on Saturday made for a quiet day on the ice Sunday, with 4 penalties for the Roos and 4 for the Rhinos assessed on the day.

The full summary can be reviewed here.

The Weekend play pushed the Rampage back towards the top of the CIHL standings, where they now sit just one point behind league leading Terrace and one point ahead of third place Hazelton.

The twin home games also gave Judd Repole some momentum up the scoring leader listings, the Rampage forward is now just five points off the pace of Hazelton's Tanner Wort. 

Hunter Johnson cracked the top ten over the weekend his eighteen points putting him into the pack just below the front runners.

After almost a full month of weekend home games, the Rampage hit the road this coming weekend, with Rhinos off to Smithers for a Saturday night match up at the Pond.

The regular season comes to an end at the Jim on February 3rd when the Steelheads make the trip from the Bulkley Valley to the Mad house on McBride in Prince Rupert.

The final two matchups set to be part of the narrative for the Rampage run for First overall.

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