Despite some enthusiastic predictions there were very few surprises in the opening round of the East and West Division playoffs in the post-season quest for the CIHL Rio Tinto Alcan championship trophy.
The two division leaders, the defending champion Kitimat Ice Demons in the West and the Smithers Steelheads both traveled and easily won their matches against the fourth place opposition, the Demons dominating in defeating the Prince Rupert Rampage 4-1 and the Steelheads prevailing 7-3 against the Omineca Ice.
Both lower-place teams can be expected to have difficulty coming back in the home ice arenas in Kitimat and Smithers next week.
Perhaps the only surprise, and not to some people, was the Terrace River Kings loss to the Hazelton Wolverines, in overtime, in Hazelton. The River Kings seemed to dominate the Wolverines in the regular season, but had to come from behind to get into the overtime, before losing, quickly, by a score of 6-5.
In Williams Lake the hometown Stampeders showed the Houston Luckies that they will need to play better on home ice next weekend, winning by a final score of 6-4.
The playoffs start in the lower-place team arena, to ensure each playoff team gets a revenue game. Home ice advantage is the availability of the extra game at home, if needed, for the higher placed teams.