The Williams Lake Stampeders marched away with two home wins during the weekend squaring off against the top two teams in the Central Interior Hockey League West Division.
The East Division-leading Stampeders improved to nine wins and two losses on the campaign after a 6-4 win Saturday against the Prince Rupert Rampage, followed by a 6-2 triumph Sunday afternoon versus last year’s CIHL champions, the Terrace River Kings.
On Saturday, Justin Foote made 26 saves and Kaleb Boyle scored twice in the edging of Prince Rupert. Nathan Zurak (1G, 1A), Jassi Sangha (1G, 1A), Francis Johnson (1G) and Dylan Richardson (1G) also tallied in the victory.
The following afternoon, after both teams got off to a slow start in a 1-1 stalemate after the first period with goals from Williams Lake’s Caleb Roy and Terrace’s Chapen Leblond, the game opened up in the second period.
David Gore, Boyle and Sangha each lit the lamp in the second, while Leblond added his second for the River Kings, giving Williams Lake a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.
Williams Lake added two more tallies from Matt Stang and Andrew Fisher, while Foote stopped 26 of 28 shots in the winning effort.
Also on Saturday, the Stampeders hosted a toque, mitten and sock toss in support of the Boys and Girls Club of Williams Lake and District.
Any fan who brought an item was also entered into a draw for a signed Carey Price jersey and a Stampeders prize pack.
Following the Stamps first goal, fans threw their toques, mittens and socks onto the ice.
It was later announced to a happy Lynne Boxeur she was the recipient of the signed Carey Price Team Canada jersey and the Stamps prize pack.
With the back-to-back wins on the weekend Williams Lake now sits six points ahead of the River Kings for first place in the CIHL and seven points ahead of the Quesnel Kangaroos in the East Division.
On Friday, Williams Lake travels south to face the 0-9 Lac La Hache Tomahawks, before returning home to host the Smithers Steelheads (4-3-0) on Sunday.
Puck drop Sunday is at 1:30 p.m. at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
