The Rupert Rampage wrapped up their regular season with an 11-6 loss in Smithers on Saturday, closing out a home-and-home with the Steelheads.
In the first period, Smithers took a 2-0 lead before the Rampage responded with a goal by Kory Movold and later in the period, Marcus Atchison. Despite that, Smithers took a 5-2 lead after one period.
The Steelheads put a chokehold on the game by scoring four goals in the second, including a hat trick by Ryan Green to lead 9-2 going into the final frame.
In the third period, the Rampage lit up the board with goals by Jared Meers, a second by Movold and a pair by Tyler Matalone. The rhinos rallied from being down 10-2 to a 10-6 score, but Joel Gellvear completed his hat trick to make it 11-6.
Brett Roth started in net for the Rampage and made 21 saves, but was replaced by Jordan Vanderwiel, who made 20 saves in relief.
That concludes the regular season for Rupert, who ended the season 7-7-2, with 16 points. It’s the best record and point total since the 2010-11 season, when the team won the west division with an 11-5 record.
There’s no rest for the Rampage, however, as the team takes on the Kitimat Ice Demons in Kitimat for the first round of the playoffs on Friday.
Game two will be in Prince Rupert on Feb. 10 and an if-necessary game will be the afternoon of Feb. 11.