The Prince Rupert Rampage would not be the foes for Kitimat to solve all their season’s problems.
The woeful Ice Demons continued their season-long seven game losing streak when they fell 7-4 against the Rampage this past Saturday in Kitimat.
Led by captain Jared Meers, who opened the game’s scoring with two quick goals in the first period, the Rampage jumped out to an immediate 3-1 lead after the first 20 minutes were in the books.
Craig Munro also added a goal for Rupert and Craig Vienneau replied for the home side after one frame.
The second period featured more scoring, but also some fisticuffs when four players dropped the gloves and earned fighting majors.
Rupert’s Jared Carter and Jordan Venditelli engaged Kitimat’s Jordan Goncalves and Nick Markowsky two minutes into the second and all four were tossed with game misconducts.
Mike Coolin and Jared Davis added to the rhinos’ lead to make it 5-1 halfway through the game and Munro scored his second of the night to make it 6-1.
Steve Venman replied for Kitimat just before the second frame expired to cut the deficit to 6-2.
In the third, Kitimat’s Thomas Forrest and Zac Carrita scored to round out the home team’s four goals, while Cole Atchison notched a marker of his own for Rupert to end the game 7-4 for the visitors.
Jarrod Hildebrandt got the win in net for Prince Rupert, while Spencer Krupop took the loss for Kitimat.
The win improves the Rampage to 4-2 on the season, good for third-place in the league behind Williams Lake (6-1) and Smithers (6-2).
It was also the second road win for the Rampage, who carried a full roster down Highway 16 to meet their rivals on Saturday.
With the loss, the Ice Demons fall to 0-7 on the year and sit in last-place, still searching for their first win.
Next up for the Rampage is the Terrace River Kings, who come into the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre on Saturday for a 7. p.m. game following a 5-4 overtime loss against Williams Lake on Nov. 11. The Rampage will look to extend their winning streak to three games.
The River Kings sit in fifth-place in the league with a 1-2-2 record. Their lone win came against Prince Rupert on Oct. 15 at the Jim.