The Williams Lake Stampeders had a successful return to home ice Nov. 4 rolling over the Prince Rupert Rampage five-two.
The stands were packed with over 600 fans in attendance as the team took to the ice for the second home game of the season, and many fans brought teddy bears for the Teddy Bear Toss to donate stuffed animals and plush toys for those in need. Fans get to throw the toys onto the ice after the first goal by the home team. It was Cole Zimmerman who put the Stampeders on the board, and fans only had to hold onto their stuffed toys for less than seven minutes of game time before they were able to toss them onto the ice.
The Rampage managed 26 shots on stamps goaltender Ryan Balbirnie while the Stamps had 32 shots on Rampage netminder Kieran Sharpe. Both goaltenders made some impressive saves to keep their teams in the game. The score was just three-two in favour of the Stamps at the end of the second period.
But the Stamps pulled away in the third period, sending home two more goals.
Once again Brendan Pigeon showed his worth, with one goal and two assists.
The game featured three penalty shots, only one making it in the net. The Stamps’ number 34, Jaydon Merritt was the player to make his mark with his penalty shot in the third period, showing some patience before sending it home.
Though tensions built as the game progressed, the referees managed to keep it from boiling over as the penalty minutes added up.
The Stamps will face off against the Terrace River Kings tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 5, for their second game of the weekend on home ice. Puck drops at 1 p.m. at the Cariboo Memorial Arena, Rink 1.
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