The TCHL season dropped the puck on the 2015-16 season at the Cominco Arena last week.
The opening season tilts were highlighted by a pair of games between Re/Max and Gerick Cycle and Sport, and a high-scoring affair between Allstar and Arlington on Thursday.
After skating to a 4-4 tie with Re/Max on Thursday, a hat trick by Gerick forward Craig Clare on Sunday propelled the Cycle to a 6-3 victory over the realtors.
David Moorehead netted the winner at 11:05 of the second period to put the Cyclists up 4-1, with assists going to Clare and Travis Drake. Re/Max’s Luke Russell drew the team within two goals 90 seconds later, but Eric Hill tallied his second of the night with 7:30 to play to restore the three goal lead.
Clare and Re/Max’s Dallas Stanton exchanged goals in the late going to make it a 6-3 final, while Ross McDonnell counted three helpers for Gerick, and Re/Max’s leading scorer Justin Bedin tallied their first marker.
Allstar and OK Tire skated to a 3-3 tie on the first night of the regular season, but All Star would find it’s scoring touch in its second match scoring three times in the first period on its way to an 8-6 victory over the Big A on Thursday.
Andrew Jenner scored twice in the first period along with former Castlegar Rebel, Fernie Ghostrider and B.V. Nitehawk Scott Morrisseau to give Allstar a 3-0 lead. Derek Steep then made it 4-0 on a set up from Morrisseau and Steve Simister a minute into the second period.
Arlington finally got on the board at 14:37 when Kris Davis scored his first of two on the night.
Twenty-seven seconds later Jeremy Robinson converted a Davis pass beating Cody Deadmarsh to cut the lead to 4-2. Morrisseau added another for the All Star 66 seconds later and Steep made it 6-2, before Pat Iannone cut the lead to three.
Jenner notched his third of the night and what proved to be the winner with 2:37 to play in the middle frame, before the Big A mounted a comeback in the third.
Three straight goals from Davis, Joey Baker, and Iannone cut the lead to 7-6 with 4:19 remaining, but an empty netter by Simister with 21 second left sealed it for Allstar.
TCHL action continues tonight when the Arlington looks to get even with Allstar at 7:15 p.m., and Re/Max takes on OK Tire at 8:30 p.m. at the Cominco Arena. There are no Sunday games due to Thanksgiving holiday.
