Vulcan Rampage face off against Gibbons Pioneers. Photo by Devin Brady
Devin Brady
Jan 24, 2024
Vulcan Rampage take on the Gibbons Pioneers Saturday at the Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex.
The second showcase Junior A hockey game was played Saturday night at the Crowsnest Pass Sports Com-plex. The puck dropped shortly after 7:30 PM and was a battle between the Vulcan Rampage and the Gibbons Pioneers. The Rampage were the home team, clad in blue and gold, and they took to the ice with the intent to defeat the Pioneers and end their losing streak. As both teams made their way onto the ice for warm-up, they were greet-ed with a flood of young fans seeking autographs. Players were noticeably pleased with the turnout and were more than happy to sign jerseys, pucks, ticket stubs and the odd arm cast. From the beginning it was a high intensity battle between the two teams. Players were putting in their all and it was not long until the away Pioneers landed on the scoreboard setting an early lead. They must have brought a large crowd with them because the stands roared when the puck went past the goalie and shook the net.
From then on the fight for victory only grew and both teams were head-to-head when it came to shots on goal, 31 for the Rampage and 40 for the Pioneers. Although at times there was some words exchanged after a hard hit, it was apparent that the ice was shared by friends. For all of the near scraps there were more laughs shared between opponents after the final whistle blew. It was sixty minutes of pure unadulterated hockey. During the first intermission our very own Crowsnest Pass Thunder took to the ice to play a short exhibition and wow the crowd. It was Saturday night hockey in the Crowsnest Pass, and it was exhilarating. In the end the Gibbons Pioneers defeated the Vulcan Rampage 6-3.
Period 1: 8:11 Pioneers Goal. #61, Cody Harper. Assist #9, Dustin Ackabee, Seth Williams and #72, Kale Williams
Period 2: 17:02 Rampage Goal. #6, Jordan Szi-lagy. Assist #12, Ethan Fraser and #7, Brydon Flem-ing14:49 Pioneers Goal. #90, Zachary Okemow. As-sist #97, Tyrick Blackhawk and #7, Lovely
13:53 Pioneers Powerplay Goal. #16, Jaye Dixon. Assist #92 Elijah Ramirez-Roszko
10:21 Rampage Goal. #6, Szilagy. Assist #12, Fraser
04:57 Pioneers Goal, Short Handed. #11, Brandon Corbeil. Assist #19, Storm Burns
03:50 Pioneers Goal. #22 S. Williams. Assist #23 Jayden Shott
Period 3: 088:23 Rampage Goal. #6, Lovely. Un-assisted
This was the second of the showcase games hosted in the community in the lead up for the Crush to take the ice next season. It has been nineteen years since the Timberwolves played their last game in the Coleman rink and it is apparent that people are ready for a new team to take to the ice and represent Crowsnest Pass in some good old fashioned hockey.