Prince Rupert Rampage welcomes the Kitimat Ice Demons to the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre tonight.
Both teams have struggled of late, with the Rampage (6-3) dropping their previous three games and the Ice Demons (0-9) have yet to register a win this year.
The Rampage are coming off a long two-week break, a much-needed one at that said head coach Roger Atchison.
“The guys needed the break, with work and everything they were a bit tired, it was good to get rested, fresh and ready to go for the next three games,” Atchison said.
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The home game for the Rampage also marks the return of the Teddy Bear toss, a charitable event in partnership with the Salvation Army, wherein fans are invited to bring teddy bears and other stuffed toys to the rink.
The toys are thrown on the ice when the home team scores its first goal of the game, and the toys go to children in need.
The game also marks a chance for the Rampage to take advantage of a struggling team to try and get back on track this season.
“I expect a pretty good effort at home in front of the crowd to get back in and at it,” Atchison said.
The Rampage will look to take care of business against a depleted Ice demons lineup,
“I expect them not to have a full bench so we just have to go about our business, and get the job done,” Atchison said,
“We have to keep it simple, use our speed to our advantage, whenever we skate we are in the game.”
After tonight’s game, the team will hit the road and head to Kitimat and Terrace next weekend a doubleheader. The road hasn’t been kind to Atchison’s team this year but that doesn’t change the coach’s confidence in his team.
“We want to go out there and play hard,” Atchison said.
Tonight’s game will take place at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre and puck drop is at 7 p.m.
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nick.laws@thenorthernview.com
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