For the second time in franchise history the Williams Lake Stampeders are Coy Cup champions.
Williams Lake, after losing in their opening game of the tournament 6-2 last Tuesday to the host Kitimat Ice Demons, exacted some revenge in the championship game Saturday, winning 5-1 over the Ice Demons to become the best senior men’s AA hockey club in the province.
Marko Zurak, president of the Williams Lake Stampeders, said it was the most dominating performance he’s seen from the team all year.
“Our guys were so pumped for that game before they were saying how there’s just no way they were going to lose it,” he said.
“Every man on our bench was a total MVP that game. It wasn’t an individual thing, it was a whole team game.”
Dylan Richardson led the way for the Stampeders with two goals, while David Gore, Francis Johnson and Nathan Zurak also found the twine for Williams Lake.
Jeff Mildenberger was the lone goal scorer for Kitimat.
Marko said Williams Lake’s game plan worked to perfection as the Ice Demons were never able to see any open ice, or given much room to work with the puck.
“We basically tried to make them go to the outside because their game is running everything down the middle,” he said.
“It was a great defensive effort. We didn’t let their forwards get an opportunity to be open, and in their zone their defence didn’t have time to turn around to make a play.”
Williams Lake netminder Justin Foote earned the win between the pipes, while Johnson was awarded Coy Cup MVP following the contest.
The Stampeders finished the Coy Cup with a four win, one loss record.
They advanced to Saturday’s final by edging the Terrace River Kings, 5-4, following wins over the Quesnel Kangaroos and the River Kings earlier in the tournament.
Saturday’s final at the Tamitik Arena was estimated to have somewhere near 1,000 fans in attendance.
The Stampeder’s first Coy Cup championship came during the 2009 season.
“We were thrilled to win that first one, but this one here, was nice,” Marko said. “It wouldn’t have mattered who we played in that last game. It was easily the best game we played all year.”
The Coy Cup was donated to BC Hockey by Colonel Coy of the 50th Gordon Highlanders (now the 16th Scottish) of Victoria. It is emblematic of the Senior AA Amateur Hockey Championship of B.C.
The first Coy Cup was awarded to the Enderby Hockey Club in the 1922/23 season.