The Williams Lake Stampeders improved to 3-1 on the season Saturday after laying a 20-goal, home-ice beat down on the Hazelton Wolverines.
The local senior men’s squad marched away from the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex after a lopsided 20-4 victory over the Central Division Wolverines, who now drop to 1-3 on the campaign.
The outing was Williams Lake’s second consecutive decision over Hazelton after an 8-4 road showing Oct. 9.
Saturday, in front of around 350 fans, Hazelton’s Lou Parent Jr. potted the first goal on Stampeders netminder Duncan Peeman.
The mark, however, appeared to wake up the Stampeders, as they went on to tally seven unanswered goals in the first period, alone.
At the end of two periods Williams Lake had extended its lead to 12-3, before adding eight more goals in the third period on Wolverines’ netminder Keano Wilson. Wilson, for his part, was busy between the pipes stopping 53 of 73 shots thrown on goal.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Peeman turned aside 22 shots for the win.
Williams Lake had five players who recorded at least three goals on the night. Lighting the lamp four times was Wilfred Robbins with Tyrel Lucas, Tyler Fuller, Nathan Zurak and Francis Johnson each recording hat tricks.
Joe Morgan and Bill McGinnis also added two goals each en route to the victory.
The win lifts the Stampeders into second place in the Central Interior Hockey League’s East Division, two points back of the expansion Quesnel Kangaroos (4-0). The rivalry, one that existed during the days of the Cariboo Hockey League, between the two clubs will undoubtedly heat up this Saturday at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex when the Stampeders look to reposition themselves in the standings.
Meanwhile, the Kangaroos will attempt to send a message to the league that they are not to be taken lightly.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.