The Williams Lake Stampeders made turkeys out of the Quesnel Kangaroos on Thanksgiving weekend in an 8-1 drubbing.
Fans left the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex Saturday filled with visions of pucks flying past both ‘Roos netminders as the Stampeders put forward a successful outing in their home-ice opener to improve to two wins and a loss early in the Central Interior Hockey League season.
It took just seven minutes for Williams Lake to open the scoring as Matt Stang notched his first of two tallies on the night, before the Stampeders forged to a 5-1 lead to wrap up the first frame.
Scoring in the first period were Stang (2), Jared Kohlen, David Gore and Stuart Sasges.
Williams Lake continued its dominance adding two unanswered markers in the second from Nathan Zurak and Dylan Richardson. Zurak potted his second of the game in the third to wrap up the scoring in the win.
Justin Fulton lit the lamp for Quesnel’s only goal of the evening.
Justin Foote made 18 saves to pickup the victory between the pipes for the Stamps, while Richard Ward and Garry Perry split the goaltending duties facing a 40-shot onslaught for the Kangaroos.
With the win the Stampeders move to first place in the CIHL East Division, while the Kangaroos slipped to 0-2 on the season.
In the CIHL West Division the Prince Rupert Rampage are holding down the top spot with a 2-0-1 record, one point ahead of the Kitimat Ice Demons. The Smithers Steelheads (1-1-0) and the Terrace River Kings (1-2-0) round out the bottom of the division.
The Stampeders are currently celebrating their 80th season of hockey and honoured alumni with an on-ice celebration prior to the game.
Williams Lake continues a home stand this Saturday, Oct. 17 at the CMRC when they host the Lac La Hache Tomahawks. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.