Kitimat Ice Demons back in first place after getting a bonus first period goal from Demons goaltender Moran

The Kitimat Ice Demons put a big space between themselves and the Prince Rupert Rampage in the first period of Saturday's game on Rampage ice, taking a four goal lead. Then they went on to a convincing 7-3.

With the Smithers Steelheads idle, the Ice Demons leapfrogged past the Fish into first place in the Western Division of the CIHL, and the league overall.

Kitimat has seven points from five games, to lead the Steelheads and Burns Lake Braves by a single point. The Demons and the Steelheads meet next weekend. Kitimat has played one more game than the Steelheads and Braves

It was a satisfying win for the Ice Demons; still short a few key players, after going very shorthanded to Williams Lake, to lose both ends of the doubleheader a week earlier.

Highlights of the game included a goal and two assists to winger Ian Coleman, to propel him to first place in the league scoring race with 14 points from five goals and eight assists. A goal credited to Kitimat goaltender, Jamie Moran, was another highlight of the night as it moved the Ice Demons into a 3-0 lead in the period, with four minutes remaining in the first. Demons held a 6-3 lead at the end of two and scored the only goal of the third.

Demons had 32 shots while the Rampage had for 34. Demons had five minors and the Rampage 6, but Demons capitalized with one shorthanded and two power-play goals.

In other Saturday night games, the Hazelton Wolverines outlasted the Terrace River Kings 5-4 in a rough one at Hazelton that saw six ejections in the game.

The Burns Lake Braves captured the battle of the Bulkley Valley, knocking off the Houston Luckies 7-2, to tie the two teams at a game apiece this season. The Braves extended a first period 3-1 lead to 5-2 at the end of the second, and added two more unanswered in the third, while out-shooting the Luckies 48-30, to demonstrate the Braves are back and the rivalry is back on.

This coming weekend the Ice Demons play in Smithers, with the winner likely taking over the league leadership. Also the Burns Lake Braves will be hosted in Hazelton for Saturday and Sunday games, while the Williams Lake Stampeders will host the Houston Luckies for back-to-back weekend games. The Prince Rupert Rampage will take on the Omenica Ice for two games in Vanderhoof.