Prince Rupert Rampage head coach Roger Atchison helps get the squad warmed up during one of their final pre-season practices before the season starts. (Alex Kurial / The Northern View)

Prince Rupert Rampage head coach Roger Atchison helps get the squad warmed up during one of their final pre-season practices before the season starts. (Alex Kurial / The Northern View)

Rampage ready for new CIHL season

Puck drops Saturday at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre

  • Sep. 20, 2019 12:00 a.m.

Puck drop is all set for the Prince Rupert Rampage on Saturday night as they welcome the Smithers Steelheads to town for the opening game of the 2019-20 season.

Fans will want to be in their seats by 7 p.m., as in addition to seeing their hometown squad they will get the first look at the newly added Smithers team. Along with the Hazelton Bulldogs, the pair of expansion teams bumped the Canadian Interior Hockey League (CIHL) up to seven teams this season.

READ MORE: Expansion newcomers bolster CIHL

The 2019-20 Prince Rupert Rampage. (Alex Kurial / The Northern View)

The Rampage went 9-6-1 last season, going to the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. They would make semi-finals for the third year in a row, ultimately falling to the rival Terrace River Kings however. Prince Rupert still went to the provincial championship, the Coy Cup, on account of other teams dropping out of the competition, but found themselves in tough suffering losses to the Fort St. John Flyers and Williams Lake Stampeders.

Forward Judd Repole led the league in scoring last season with 12 goals and 26 assists, and the team will be leaning on him heavily once again this year. Repole was selected as CIHL MVP for his efforts.

Rampage players keep their eye on the puck during practice. (Alex Kurial / The Northern View)

(Alex Kurial / The Northern View)

Tyler Ostrom proved to be a real two-way player, the defenceman locking things down on the blue line while also finishing second in points with 23. He was voted top defencemen in the league at year’s end.

The crease will be defended by the duo of Tomoki Yoshizawa and Devon Gerrits, who returns to the team after a two year hiatus. At the helm once again will be the reliable Roger Atchison.

(Alex Kurial / The Northern View)

The 16 game season will begin on Saturday, and wrap up on Feb. 1, after which playoffs will begin.

READ MORE: Two Rampage players named in the CIHL regular season awards

2019-20 Rampage Roster

1 – Tomoki Yoshizawa – Goalie

5 – Marcus Atchison – Defence

6 – Jacob Santurbano – Defence

9 – Thomas Robinson – Forward

11 – Jean-Luc Rendell-Fournier – Forward

12 – Kale Burns – Forward

13 – Teal Burns – Forward

14 – Jared Meers – Forward

16 – Jordan Weir – Forward

18 – Judd Repole – Forward

19 – Koltin Chasse – Forward

20 – Hayden Long – Defence

22 – Cody Cringan – Forward

25 – Jared Carter – Forward

28 – Kory Movold – Forward

29 – Devon Gerrits – Goalie

61 – Teryn Archer – Forward

71 – Jeremy Boot – Forward

74 – Cole Morris – Forward

77 – Tyler Ostrom – Defence

88 – Graeme Lodge – Defence

91 – Cole Atchison – Forward

94 – Wade Cline – Defence

Head Coach – Roger Atchison

General Manager – Ron German


Alex Kurial | Sports Reporter

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