The Smithers Steelheads defeated the Williams Lake Stampeders last Saturday to become the Central Interior Hockey League playoff champions.
The Steelheads won at home in game two of the series, 5-3, in what was a do-or-die game for the Stampeders’ season in the best-of-three series.
“Feels great to win. Good for the guys,” said Steelheads head coach, Tom DeVries. “They’re a scary team, they’re so skilled and we just seem to play them right and limited their chances and we scored at opportune times and it was a great game for us.”
Francis Johnson, Nathan Zurak and Kurtis Bond lit the lamp for the Stampeders.
Ian Smith (2), Zach Davies, Mark Arnold and Adam DeVries scored for the Steeleheads.
Smithers outshot the Stampeders 49-40 in the contest.
David Little picked up the win in goal for Smithers, while Justin Foote was between the pipes for Williams Lake.
Following the game, Steelheads’ centreman Brendan DeVries was named CIHL playoff MVP.
The win also grants the Steelheads a berth to the Coy Cup senior men’s AA provincial championships in Terrace from March 22-26.
- With files from the Smithers Interior News