Williams Lake Stampeders establish themselves at the top of the CIHL with a split of games in Vanderhoof

The Williams Lake Stampeders are on top of the CIHL’s eastern division after picking up two points from a narrow 5-4 win in the Sunday game after losing 7-3 to the Omenica Ice in that team’s season opener in Vanderhoof Saturday. The Stamps, with a season opening 6-5 overtime shootout win against their regional rivals, the 100 Mile House Bears in 100 Mile House on Oct. 6, have four points from three games, to take sole possession of top spot in the east. The Ice, with a convincing opening night win, are two points back after two games, tied with the Houston Luckies, which won its home opener against the Smithers Steelheads 8-6 on Oct. 6. The Ice will have two games against the 100 Mile House Bears in 100 Mile on Saturday Oct. 27, while the Stamps take on the Kitimat Ice Demons in Williams Lake in the Demons’ first road trip. The Ice Demons, last year’s CIHL playoff champions will start its season this Saturday, Oct. 20, with two home games against the Houston Luckies, now also in the east division. The Terrace River Kings game against the Smithers Steelheads, scheduled for this weekend in Terrace, has been postponed. The Steelheads, meanwhile, were successful winning their second game of the season against the Hazelton Wolverines, in Hazelton, Saturday night, defeating the Wolves, 6-5, in what turned out to be a much closer game than anticipated. The Steelheads saw the Wolverines put on a strong show to hold a 5-3 lead at the second intermission, before coming back in the final period to eke out the win. Stu Barnes scored twice for the Wolverines in a losing cause, while Jamie Deba came off the bench to take over goal for the Steelheads from Tanner, who suffered a broken hand in a goalmouth accident when he was stepped on with a skate. Deba hadn’t played this season, but was able to withstand the pressure, while the Steelheads stepped up for three third period goals. The two games in Vanderhoof showed the Ice coming out strongly against the Stampeders, and taking a solid 5-0 lead, despite taking the majority of early penalties. Stamps who had a total of 15 power plays, finally hit the net behind Brent Williams with the man advantage. They then made the score 5-2, with a shorthanded goal, but the Ice re-established its dominance going up 7-2 to stomp out the comeback. A late Stamps goal didn’t change the outcome. The Stampeders got a fortunate fast start with a deflected goal, just eight seconds into the Sunday game and went to the locker room up 2-0. Three power play goals, two for the Stamps and one by the Ice left Williams Lake leading 4-2 after two. The Ice fought back in the third, cutting the gap to one goal, 5-4, but Willie Sellars, making his first start in the Stampeders net, held on with some good late saves, for the split in points.