Tie makes Kings the new leader in the CIHL

The Terrace River Kings, by virtue of 4-4 tie with the Smithers Steelheads in Smithers, Saturday night, took over sole possession of top place in the Central Interior Hockey League. For the River Kings, who debuted in the league at the start of the 2004-05 season, it is the first time the team has held first place. The Kings moved ahead of the idle Houston Luckies, with the single point. It was a fast-paced game, with god end to end action and two respectful teams played a game with no fights and no major penalties. Terrace scored at the start of each period, and their fans were counting down the minutes in the third, when Smithers tied the game with only four minutes remaining. Terrace opened the scoring in the first period with about seven minutes left, on a goal by Richie Rogers with assists to Terry Zaporzan and captain Mario Desjardins. It looked as if the lead would hold going into the first intermission, but with 24 second remaining Darryl Young scored the equalizer, assisted by Ian Smith. Terrace again led off the scoring in the second, on a goal by Ryan Muldoe, assisted by Ken Johnson. Smithers got one past Craig Walsh in the Kings’ goal. Mitch Marshall scored, assisted by Dan Dykens and Ian Smith. With five minutes left in the second Smithers surrendered the lead again, when Richie Rogers scored his second of the game, again assisted by Mario Desjardins. Again the Kings worked to hold the lead to the intermission, but Smithers kept pressing and got back into a 3-3 tie on a goal by Cody Brown, assisted by Dennis Olsen, with two minutes left on the clock. The Kings went back to work in the third and again restored their one goal lead with Mario Desjardins combining with Darcy Allison seven minutes into the period. There was great pressure in both directions as Terrace again worked to hold the lead, only to be ultimately frustrated with four minutes left in the game when Dan Dykens put the puck behind Walsh, assisted by Mitch Marshall and Mitch Pederson. The next four minutes had fans of both stripes holding their breath in end-to-end action, but neither team could capitalize. The tie emphasizes the improves level of parity in the western division of the league. This coming weekend the Kings take a trip to Mackenzie, where the Moose can be expected to be looking for revenge for two losses in Terrace at the end of October. Houston Luckies will host the Smithers Steelheads, in a one-game weekend, while Kitimat Ice Demons will try to get back on the winning track with a visit to the Williams Lake Stampeders. Both the Kings and the Ice Demons face five games in nine days, including a med-week meeting between the two on Thursday, Nov. 17. On the Nov. 19-20 weekend, Kitimat hosts the Smithers Steelheads while Terrace will test the Houston Luckies in Houston in a two game series.