Ice Demons clinch Lightening Cup as regular season Champions as Stamps spoil the party for Steelheads

The Kitimat Ice Demons got some help from the Williams Lake Stampeders, while they put in a solid effort to complete a season sweep of the Prince Rupert Rampage and clinch their third-in-a-row CIHL regular season championship Saturday at Tamitik Arena in Kitimat. The 4-1 win gave the Ice Demons 29 points on the season, while the Smithers Steelheads home-ice 4-3 loss to the Stampeders Saturday stranded them at 26 points, with just one game in hand, for second place. The Steelheads came back to win the Sunday game 6-2, but the Stamps had taken away their opportunity for the team to win its first league regular season championship. The Steelheads finished with 28 points, one behind the Demons. In Kitimat Saturday, the Rampage came out flat in the game and Demons ended the season on a confident note, scoring twice in each of the first and second periods. Keith Movald in the Prince Rupert net kept the score respectable stopping 34 of 38 shots from the Ice Demons, while Brett Vilness, in the Demons net, surrendered one first period goal to Rampage's Curtis Cardinal, but came up big late in the third period when the Rampage put in their best offensive effort of the game as the Demons effectively killed two minor penalties in the final six minutes of the game. Demons opened the scoring on a nice goal by Paul Plante, (Gerard Baldo, Terry Whelan.) Curtis Cardinal tied the game briefly for the Rampage, when he was left unattended in front and put a nice pass from Chris Blrecic up top over Vilness. Baldo and Whelan again combined to assist on a breakaway goal by Derek Wakita, who got in alone and gave Movald no chance. The Ice Demons added two goals early in the second, the first scored after only 37 seconds of play, with the Demons on the power play. Trent Bossence got the face-off back to Jeff Mildenberger, who put rocket high into the net over Movald. Two minutes later Ian Coleman was also sent in alone on Movald by Blaine Markwart and put the puck in the net easily. Jeff Baker assisted. In other games Saturday night, the Terrace River Kings defeated the Hazelton Wolverines, 5-3, in a solid two way contest. The Houston Luckies were edged 4-3, by the Omenica Ice in a shootout, but the one point, (combined with the loss of two points, by the Ice when BCAHA overturned the Jan. 11 win by the Ice over Hazelton (ineligible player) assured the Luckies will play the Stampeders in the playoffs, while the Ice and Steelheads will square off in the second series, starting in Vanderhoof. On Sunday the Steelheads had three power play goals in defeating the Stamps 6-2 and in Vanderhoof the Luckies lost 4-3 in the Saturday shootout but came back to win the Sunday game 7-5. No details made available, yet.) Stampeders' pp and hot goaltending stopped Steelheads chances of winning League Lightening Cup. Stampeders were on a mission, beat the Steelheads twice and gain home ice advantage against the Houston Luckies in the first round of the playoffs. It did not happen, as the Stampeders won the first game and the Steelheads took the win in the second. Stampeders scored twice in the first, both power play goals. First goal was scored by Aaron Zurak assisted by Nathan Zurak. The second goal was reversed -- scored by Nathan Zurak assisted by Aaron Zurak and Francis Johnson. Shots on goal were 15 for the Fish and seven for the Stamps. Phil Simoes for the Stamps was ejected from the game for checking from behind, against Blake Parker of the Steelheads. Blake took offence and hammered Phil to the Ice, and was ejected as well. Penalties were even at five apiece. The Stamps took the 2-0 lead to the locker room. Steelheads got back on track and scored their first goal by Mike Verticchio assisted by Ian Smith, and Darnel Calfa. Stampeders answered back with two more power play goals, the first scored by Brent McIsaac (Francis Johnson, Robin Gilbert.) Stamps final and winning goal was scored by Robin Gilbert, (Francis Johnson, Kent Courage.) Shots on goal were 13 for the Fish and seven again for the Stamps. One goal was disallowed for the Steelheads after the ref lost sight of the puck and whistled play dead. Steelheads had three minors and Stamps one as the players concentrated on hockey. The third period was a barn burner for the full house of fans, end to end action, and good fast hard clean hitting hockey. Stampeders and Steelheads provided a show for the fans. Steelheads scored their second goal by Kellin Brown assisted by Matt Arnold and Mitch Pederson. The Steelheads final goal was scored on a power play with just four seconds left in the game by Randal Groot, assisted by Mitch Pederson, and Darryl Young. Shots on goal were 16 for the Steelheads and 11 for the Stampeders. One penalty for the Fish and two for the Stampeders. The final shots were 44 Steelheads and 24 for the Stampeders, but as always it's the ones that get into the net that count. Game two was much the same as the first only this time the Steelheads got the bounces, and the Stampeders came out a little tired as the bus legs finally kicked in. Steelheads first goal scored by Ian Smith (Darnel Calfa, Tyler Pederson). The Stampeders ended the period with one of their own, scored by Brent McIsaac from Phil Simoes, and Francis Johnson. Shots on goal were 15 for the Fish and six for the Stampeders, with one minor to each team as the ended 1-1 In the second, our reporter says the Steelheads played their best period of the season, passes tape to tape, and finishing their checks, that resulted in three goals for the period. The Fish second goal was scored by Dallas Anderson, (Nathan Skubovious, Ian Smith.)The third and wining goal was notched by Ian Smith, assisted by Mike Verticchio, and Tyler Pederson. Fourth goal scored by Randal Groot, assisted by Eric Smith, and, with his fourth point of the game, Ian Smith. Shots on goal were 18 for the Fish and nine for the Stampeders. Penalties were even at two each. The Stampeders came out in the third, firing on all cylinders. Deba for the Steelheads had to make a couple of exceptional saves at the start of the period that could have changed the outcome of the game. Steelheads fifth goal score by Dan Vinnish, assisted by Eric Smith, and Randal Groot. Stampeders second goal scored by Francis Johnson, assisted by Robin Gilbert, and Aaron Zurak. Steelheads came right back with a goal by Kellin Brown, (Nathan Skubovious, Blake Parker.) Shots on goal were a little closer this period at 15 for the Steelheads and 11 for the Stampeders but there were seven penalties called, 4 for Steelheads and 3 for the Stamps. The shots total for the game was 48 Steelheads and 26 for the Stampeders as the game ended 6-2 for the Steelheads.

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