Kitimat Ice Demons cement hold on CIHL lead and put distance between west division rivals

The Kitimat Ice Demons, playing by far their most cohesive game this season, left no doubt that the Terrace Rive Kings will need to get back to the chalk board for breakouts, after winning convincingly, 7-0, in Kitimat Saturday. Jamie Moran registered the shutout, while Brad Norwood in the Terrace goal made numerous good saves o keep the score respectable. The Ice Demons scored early, 72 seconds into the game, frequently and late, with just five minutes remaining. A tiring Terrace team couldn’t seem to handle the big ice space in Tamitik Arena, where the Kings have yet to register a point against the Demons, since entering the league three years ago. Demon’s speed and fore-check simply wore the Kings down. Kings were short one or two regulars, but so were the Demons, who have a good bench of healthy contributors and a couple of major scorers still out. Terry Whelan, with two goals and an assist, giving him 10 points in his last five games, led the Demons. A good crowd of well over 1,000 came out to see the clash with the “newer, faster, younger” Kings – but they didn’t show up on this night. With the Smithers Steelheads surprisingly losing 7 – 6 in a shootout to the Hazelton Wolverines in the cramped quarters of the Ken Trombley Arena, the Demons established a six point lead over the Kings and a lead of four points over the Steelheads in the west division. Terrace has three games in hand on both Kitimat and the Steelheads so can’t be counted out, yet. Hazelton with only two points from five games may be in too deep a hole to climb out for a playoff spot. Hazelton’s shootout winner was scored by Lou Parent. With its win in Houston, 4-1 Saturday, the Omenica Ice drew level with the Williams Lake Stampeders at the top in the east division, each with 10 points, but with the Stamps having a game in hand. The Houston Luckies, despite the home loss as still well in the hunt, with a two point deficit on the Stamps and the Ice, but a three game cushion over the Ice and two games in hand on the Stamps. If they win these games in hand there will be quite a crush at the top of the east division. Next week’s league action sees Terrace taking on Hazelton at Terrace in a single game, Omenica Ice hosts the emerging 100 Mile House Bears at Vanderhoof – finally – at home, and Smithers Steelheads will visit the unfriendly Houston arena to take on the Luckies. Both teams will be looking for points to keep pace in their divisions.