The Prince Rupert Rampage’s season came to an end on Feb. 3 after losing 7-3 to the Williams Lake Stampeders at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Arena.
The arena was packed with Rampage fans hoping to see their team tie up its series with the Stampeders 1-1 and force a deciding Game Three. However, a disciplined, veteran Stampeders team got off to a quick start and took over in the second and third periods. The Stampeders outshot the Rampage 30-23 in the game.
READ MORE: Rampage season on the line against Williams Lake
“That’s a good team over there,” said Rampage coach Roger Atchison. “We didn’t play to our best and they capitalized [on that], but we just couldn’t get it done today.”
Jassi Sangha opened the scoring for the Stampeders at 2:48 in the first period. The Rampage responded with a goal from Patrick Robert who was setup from behind the net by Jordan Aubee. The Rampage briefly took the lead when Tyler Ostrom picked up the puck mid-ice, evaded a Stampeders defender and went top-shelf on net-minder Willie Sellars for a beautiful unassisted goal.
The Stampeders quickly reasserted themselves, scoring two more goals before the end of the first period to take control of the game.
First, Nathan Zurak scored at the 13:01 mark followed by Kurtis Bond, who scored with less than five minutes to go in the period. Rampage goaltender Dave Wood — who was playing with an injured groin — exited the game at the end of the first and was replaced by Brett Roth.
The Rampage conceded two more goals in the second period as two penalties allowed the Stampeders to establish themselves on the power play. Stu Sasges scored the first goal of the period for the Stampeders with Ian O’Brien chipping in a second to give the Stampeders a 5-2 cushion.
READ MORE: Rampage drop game one to Stampeders
“It came down to penalties and short-handed,” said Atchison. “We’ve got a big bench, and while we were trying to skate and use our assets, we ended up playing their game for them.”
In the third period, the two teams traded early goals with Ryan Conlin scoring for the Stampeders to extend their lead to 6-2 and Cole Atchison scoring on the power play on the Rampage to try and re-establish momentum for the home side. However, it was too little, too late for the home side who conceded one final goal from Bond at the end of the period for the final 7-3 score.
Atchison said he was proud of his team’s effort all season. The Rampage overcame some tough early season defeats to finish second place in the CIHL, one of their best finishes in years.
“I think we put on a good show other than this last one tonight,” he said. “I told them thanks for putting on a good show for the home fans.”
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