Streak continues for River Kings against Prince Rupert

The Terrace River Kings are two games away from an undefeated season after defeating the Prince Rupert Rampage on the road by a score of 2-1 on Feb. 5.

Prince Rupert’s final game of the regular season started by conceding two first period goals, including one short-handed goal, to the River Kings. Though the Kings wouldn’t be able to find the back of the net again for the remaining 51 minutes of the game, the pair of goals proved to be just enough to win.

“Against a veteran team like Terrace, when we spot them two goals in the first it’s an uphill battle,” Ramparts coach Roger Atchison said.

The Rampage were able to cut the lead in half with a power-play goal from Cole Morris in the second, but were unable to capitalize on their other other one-man advantages throughout the game.

“Our penalty-kill made the difference. Rupert has a good power-play and we were able to keep them off the board on the power-play,” Rob Bell, River Kings coach, said.

For the last half of the game the Rampage played with more energy and were able to pressure the goal of the River Kings.

“The last 30 minutes, we were a better team than we [have been] for the last few weeks,” Atchison said.

However, the River Kings were able to hold off the Rampage’s advances and survive a final four-minute power play in the last half of the third period.

With the win over the Rampage secured, the River Kings have two games remaining on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12 against Quesnel and Williams Lake. Their sole blip in the season was a 1-1 draw versus the Rampage.

“It feels great. I just hope we didn’t peak too early and hopefully got something left for the playoffs,” Bell said.

Terrace clinched first place in the standing before the game against the Rampage by beating the Nechako Northstars 3-2.

Rampage player Brody Hemrich was hit in the jaw by the puck during the second period. His mouth guard was knocked out. He was taken off the ice promptly and needed 30 stitches.

“Tell the boys I’m sorry for dipping out. I’ll get down there as soon as I can,” Hemrich said shortly after leaving the game in a text message to Rampage coach, Roger Atchison.

The Rampage are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs. The team will be matched up in a best-of-three series against the Kitimat Ice Demons beginning the series away on Feb. 18.

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