The Prince Rupert Rampage’s teddy-bear toss game didn’t go as planned as the team fell 5–0 to the Hazelton Wolverines.
It was the Rampage’s first game since a 6-3 loss against Quesnel on Nov. 2, and they were looking to get back in the win column. The first period was mostly uneventful, both goaltenders made a few spectacular saves with Hazelton goaltender Damien Ketlo making several saves on grade-A chances early in the game.
The first and only goal of the period was scored nine minutes into the first thanks to a Daniel Kernaghan shot beating Rampage goaltender Frank Slubowski. After the first period the Rampage trailed by a goal.
The second period was much more eventful than the first as Kernaghan scored again just two minutes into the second giving the Wolverines a 2-0 lead. After the goal both teams traded a few penalties but neither was able to convert.
Hazelton extended its lead to 3–0 with just over eight minutes left in the period, thanks to a goal from Ethan Browne.
The only other action in the second happened when the Wolverines stripped the puck from the Rampage and skated up ice on a breakaway the Wolverines tried to beat Slubowski on the backhand but he would do the splits and stretch to make the save and cover the puck. After making the save Slubowski was slow to get up and was pulled for precautionary reasons after the second period.
In the third the Wolverines added on two more goals as Levi Baker scored eight minutes into the period and Kernaghan scored his third of the game to secure the hat trick.
Because the Rampage hadn’t scored the teddy bears were tossed onto the ice halfway through the third. Its difficult to win games when down by multiple goals, said Rampage head coach Roger Atchison.
“We need to score. We need to put some pucks on net. we’re having a hard time getting a little bit of offense. We had a couple chances but we just really couldn’t bury the puck. It’s a pretty good team over there. So it’s tough when you don’t score early.”
The Rampage return to action Dec. 6 for a rematch against the Wolverines in Hazelton.
