CIHL has a shootout on its first weekend as W.L. Stampeders burst first game bubble for the Bears

One of the newly introduced changes to play in the Central Interior Hockey League this season, the shoot-out to solve tied games, came into effect almost right away as last year's regular season champions, the Williams Lake Stampeders found themselves tied 5-5 at the end of 60 minutes on their opening night match-up with the 100 Mile House Bears. But again, a lack of scoring on the shootout proved their undoing The Bears, hoping for a better home ice season than 2006-07, saw the recipe for success in a hard checking game, although it was clear neither team was in mid-season shape and many players were laboring under the pace. The two teams traded goals back and forth through 60 minutes of regulation play, with no team holding more than a one goal lead. Scoring for the Stampeders were Dan Huska, Wilfred Robbins, Evan McDonald and newcomer, Rich Conlin with a pair. The Bears answered with their own tallies, as both Wade Balbirnie and Phil Vaugois tailed two goals each with Brad Stark recording the other Bear marker. Williams Lake net minder Willie Sellars kept the scored tied a 5-5 late in the third period as he made an outstanding toe save to keep the visitors in the game. When the final buzzer sounded, and the score remained a 5-5 draw, many of the crowd of over 400 fans began to head for the exits not realizing that a shoot out was imminent. Dale Weins, the 100 Mile House goaltender who had played a very good game between the pipes for the home-town Bears, did not find the shoot-out to his liking. All three Williams Lake players found the net behind Weins, while the three Bear shooters went 0-3 against Stamps keeper Willie Sellars. Next up for Williams Lake is a pair of road games in Vanderhoof this coming weekend, October 13 & 14, against the Omineca Ice. The Stamps will then return home for their home opener, October 20th, against 100 Mile House, as the Bears will look for some pay-back and spoil the Stampeders opening night festivities. The CIHL season kicked off Friday night in Smithers, with a hard fought 5-4 win for the Steelheads, over last year's west division last-place finisher, the Hazelton Wolverines. Wolverines, minus their top scorer of last season Amadee Marshall, was looking for some output from junior A hopeful Matt Wolfenden, and Lou Parent, back from playing in the Vancouver Island League. But, for the Wolverines, despite a strong comeback effort after dropping behind 4-1, couldn't get enough going to beat the Steelheads, which is also without some of its top scoring at the start of the season. They don't expect former captain Ian Smith to suit up, or last season's scoring leader, Dan Dykens. Reports say Brendan Hutchinson is not in the lineup either. Steelheads two point lead from the only game of the night eroded quickly in Houston on Saturday when the Luckies showed news of their ultimate demise as members of the eastern division may be premature, with an 8-6 win over the Steelheads to kick off the new season in Houston Goals by newcomer, Kyle Amonson, a reported five-goal output by Luckies' top talent, Blair Lefebvre, and a goal by Glen Kelly helped Luckies hold off the Steelheads after running up a 4-1 lead. Luckies took too many penalties for some of their fans, but they've showed already that they are back in the race, as expected. Games this weekend, in addition to the home openers for the Omenica Ice against Williams Lake, include Smithers traveling to Hazelton for a return match. Terrace has been forced to postpone their home opener against Smithers, scheduled for Oct. 20 and Terrace's second sheet of ice project has delayed installation of ice in the Terrace arena until at least Oct. 23.

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