The Prince Rupert Rampage opened the new year and the final month of the regular season with a 7-2 win over the struggling Kitimat Ice Demons.
The Rampage wasted no time taking the lead as Hunter Johnson scored on the first shot of the game just 29 seconds in. The Ice Demons got a quick answer as Carter Mowbray beat Rampage goaltender Nicholas Haisell to tie the game. The Rampage restored their lead two minutes later as Johnson scored his second goal of the game to give the Rampage a 2-1 lead.
No further scoring occurred until late in the period when Ice Demons forward David Leite was assessed a minor penalty putting the Rampage on the power play. On the power play the Rampage extended their lead on a slot shot from Rampage forward Judd Repole in his first game since Dec. 1 for his first goal of the season. Before the end of the period Rampage defenseman Marcus Atchison got a chance on the breakaway and slid the puck around Ice Demons goaltender Kayla Thompson to give the Rampage a 4-1 lead after the first period.
The second period had back and forth action and saw Ice Demons defenseman Darryl Bourque score to give the Ice Demons some life. The Ice Demons drove the flow of the game getting several good looks until defenseman Christopher Vilness was charged for slashing giving the Rampage another power play. On the power play it was Judd Repole with his second of the game to give the Rampage a 5-2 lead after two periods.
The Rampage added two more goals in the third, from Cole Atchison and Kory Movold, to seal the 7-2 victory.
Getting the quick start and getting Judd Repole back in the lineup helped the Rampage get the win, said head coach Roger Atchison.
“It was nice to get a good start, but then they came right back and got one. So we’re back to square one, but I thought the first period wasn’t too bad. They played hard, and we’re just after the Christmas break so we’re just trying to get our feet under us. We also get our team leader Judd Repole back and he’s our day to day guy. So it’s awesome to have him back.”
The Rampage will be back in action on Jan. 9 when they travel to Kitimat for a rematch with the Ice Demons
