The 2012/2013 season may not be one to remember for the Prince Rupert Rampage, who missed the playoffs and finished last, but the final home game of the season was certainly one fans in the rink won’t forget.
Facing the Omineca Ice, the Rampage played a hard-hitting, fast paced and exciting game that took a shootout to decide.
It was all Omineca in the early going, who threw their weight around with some crushing hits before Tyrell Turgeon netted a shorthanded goal with 16:38 to play on a cross-ice shot that went over the glove of Colby Hagman. Turgeon followed up the goal with a slapshot from just inside the blue line that sailed over Hagman’s glove with 4:51 to go to make it 2-0 Ice, but with just 52.8 seconds left to play Greg Sheppard beat Paul Simoes from in close to lessen the gap to one heading into the second period.
In the second, Vanderhoof’s Donavan Ketlo put home a loose puck just 47 seconds into the period to regain the two goal lead, but 19 seconds later Justin Fontaine responded with a goal for the Rampage and 1:40 later Sheppard finished up a three-man passing play to tie things up at three. With 4:38 to play Mike Stang put the Ice up with a goal at the side of the net. While it looked like the Ice would take the lead into the final frame, John Hunt scored with 1:22 to play to tie things up and ensure an exciting finish to the game.
In the third, Turgeon completed the hat trick with 9:45 to play, taking a great cross-ice pass that left the side of the net open, but three minutes later Ryan Stace-Smith hit the twine with a slapshot from right in front to tie things up. That would be all the goals in the period, but a fight between Joseph Repole and Mike Simoes brought the crowd to its feet. The score was 5-5 when the final buzzer sounded, setting the stage for a shootout.
The first shooter for Vanderhoof was Turgeon, who found the back of the net for the fourth time. That would prove to be the winner as Hagman and Simoes shut the door on the remaining shooters.
The Rampage finished the season with 10 points, one behind the Houston Luckies for the final playoff spot, and a record of 4-12-2. Kory Movold led the team with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points.