Stamps win 3-1. I don't know the details I will leave that to Rusty. Good job boys.

It was a pretty good weekend of hockey in Houston infront of the most energized and passionate fans I've ever seen in this league.

Saturdays game began with the Luckies coming out hard smelling blood trying to finish the Stamps off and book their ticket to the Coy, but amazing goaltending from Justin Foote kept the Stamps in the game. Francis Johnson opened the scoring on an early Stampeder power play and Gilbert Robbins finished off a beautiful passing play to give the Stamps a 2-0 lead after one . The score was very flattering for the Stamps who really leaned on Foote for most of the period. The Stamps also had a disallowed goal that the referee didn't see go in, but was clearly across the line.

In the second period Williams Lake really turned it on and carried the play as they tried to put the Luckies away and secure a game 3, but Kenzel stood tall until Robbins was able to beat him for the second time on a rebound that gave the Stamps a 3-0 lead. Kenzel made a few more big saves to keep it a 3 goal deficit, before the Luckies were able to draw some penalties at the tail end of the period only to be turned away by Foote and the Stamps penalty killers.

The Stamps continued to go for the kill early in the third but were unsuccessful as they searched for the game clincher and after the first 5 minutes the Luckies turned back to the attack and were finally rewarded on a Jared Sweeney goal with just under 15 minutes to go bringing the Luckies faithful to their feet and bringing momentum back to the Luckies who pushed hard the rest of the way only to be stymied time and time again by foote and the Stampeders team defence.

The Luckies finished 0-6 on the PP which was their downfall all weekend, while the Stamps went 1-3. The atmosphere for this game was amazing. These are hands down the best fans in the league. Even at 3-0 Stamps, the barn was rocking and doing everything they could to try and energize the Luckies. Thought the officiating was abit tilted to the home team in this game with the disallowed goal and some real iffy calls including a bizarre roughing call in the final two minutes, but all in all this was a very good game.

Sunday was nearly a rerun of saturday. Houston came out strong and tried to impose their will physically and generated some pretty decent chances early, but again the Stampeders got the big saves they didn't get in game 1. This time though Kenzel, although not as busy, stopped everything at the other end sending the game to the dressing room tied at zeros.

The Stamps again took complete control in the second period earning all the scoring chances early, and it didn't take long to get rewarded as Paul Girodat scored on a nice wrap around under two minutes into the period. Shortly after that Dan Cook took a long stretch pass (which I though was way offside and i was surprised it wasn't argued) and scored five hole on Don Kenzel to make it 2-0 Stamps. After some nice chances at both ends were denied, the Stamps went to the powerplay and were able to extend the lead to three after a nice passing play ended with Wilf Robbins redirecting the puck past Kenzel and it looked like the stamps were gonna cruise from there as the Luckies seemed to be coming unravelled. But during a second consecutive Luckies penalty the Dinelle brothers hooked up on a nice short handed goal late as Derek blew around the Stampeders defender and powered it passed Foote to make it 3-1 and give the home side some life going into the third.

For the record Corey Martins called the game sunday and was terrific.

In the third there was no scoring and the Stamps were able to do a nice job of holding the fort as they also got some timely saves to shut down the Luckies attack which threw everything they could at the net, only to get no results. A couple big penalty kills were again the Stampeders strength in this one as the Luckies just couldn't come up with the big goal.

This was a terrific series with both teams playing their guts out. Houston deserves alot of credit for giving the Stamps everything they could handle and could very well be moving on had they been able to find a few goals this weekend, but it just wasn't meant to be this year. Also cudo's to the Luckies fans who were amazing this weekend, it was a real treat to experience that kind of energy in the CIHL. I would think it is unprecedented. Now the Stamps move on to face the Ice Demons in the rio Tinto Alcan Finals for the third time in four years, looking to win it for the first time, and then it's off to defend the Coy Cup in Powell River

Congrats to Houston and Smithers on impressive seasons. Both teams could easily be continuing on by the sounds of it.

Also, I was wondering has there ever been a series in the CIHL when the road team won all the games in a three game series?

my disapointment would have gotten the best of me writing a recap...good job Rusty...I would disagree with a few points but minor, and not gonna change the results...The reffing Saturday was suspect, but I would say just as the Stamps felt they got the short end of the calls, I think the Luckies could fairly say the same thing as well for Saturday...Ron has got a ways to go before he is one of the better refs in the league...Sunday reffing was top notch, other than the mystery hooking call on Blair...The non goal of the Stamps on Saturday, I did not see cross the line and I had a decent angle, although some other fans I talked too were pretty sure that it crossed the line and were surprised it was waved off...The second goal Saturday I would agree was controversial, and I was surprised as well why there was no argument, it was an odd play and my assumption, and only my assumtion is the Luckies felt there was going to be a whistle so they let up...I think the Stamps showed this weekend why they won the Coy last year, and why they will win the league championship this year, a well balanced team, from goalteding to defence to the forwards, I am not sure that there is a team as deep at every position as the Stamps, maybe Kitimat...Kitimat shocked me today, I fully expected a smithers win and that we would be having the battle of the Bulkley...once again smithers shows they have no finish...Congrats to the Stamps, deserving winners of this round...MVP this weekend was Foote he stood tall and was unshakeable, close second was Kenzle as he kept the luckies in it, and with a couple of breaks we would be talkin about a luckies victory...and just this once I am going to say it...Go Stamps Go...

Kind words Sandlak, your one of the few posters who can be classy in defeat on here.

Like i said before, the Luckies played a great series and could just as easily be the team moving on, but it just wasn't their year for one reason or another. They still have lots to build on though. That top line took their game to another level this year, there was some added depth on defence with Sweeney and Glen Kelly is improving into one of the leagues better dmen. There is also some decent younger energy guys on the team, but they will likely have to add some more tools to their game to make a bigger impact and help the Luckies reach the next level. Either way, the Luckies, as always, will be back next year as dangerous as ever.

Sandlak writes ...Once again Smithers shows they have no finish...
I am so tired of hearing that...can you not let go of your unshakeable Luckies pride and give credit where credit is due?

In the past 3 years Smithers has been consistently in the top 3 teams in the league.2 Years ago we lost the western final in a hotly contested 3 games against Kitimat. Last year we lost to arguably the best team W.L. has ever iced (went on to win the COY)This year we go to double overtime of game 3 with (6 or 7 time?) champs.

The only thing your beloved Luckies have finished in the past 3 years is a large quantity of double teen burger meals from A&W. Maybe it is the Luckies that lack the finish? After all, you dropped 2 in a row in your OWN BARN!

The Demons will tell you that they were one bad bounce or turnover away from elimination yesterday.I am sure even Poppa hewey was wiping the sweat from his wrinkly old brow.

So when the Luckies finish a series of note feel free to comment.

Are the Steelheads un-lucky? YES Cursed? Possibly.
But dont tell me they lack the will or skill to win!

I never said the Steelheads lacked the skill to win...in fact I picked them to win the freakin series...in fact I am not sure that I have seen a team do the Luckies, in Houston, EVER, what the Steelheads did to them earlier this season...I would put Smithers against Kitimat in another series and pick Smithers again, in fact I would put Smithers against Williams Lake in the final and pick the Steelheads to win...lack of skill absolutely not...maybe the most skilled team in the league...now lack of will...I think you may be on to something there...it strikes me that there narry a soul on the steelheads team that I would consider a nitty gritty, heart and soul, git er done at all costs kind of leader...nobody who has yet grabbed a game, or the steelheads by the throat and taken the game into his own hands and literally willed his team to victory...Look at what the Demons have done here year after year (I know im gonna sound like im slurpin papa hewey, and drinking the Grampa v rod koolaid) with the changes and injuries they have had to go through...and I am sure you will puke at this next sentence...but look at what the Luckies have accomplished...seriously check out some league history and it will show that Houston has had more success, and more CHAMPIONSHIPS than the steelies...and all due respect to all the Luckies, past and present, with lineups that have historically had less depth than the Kitimats or the Williams Lakes...might cause some serious convulsions but maybe the Smithers leadership should hold their nose and look to Houston for that missing ingredient...no its not kenzle, you guys have tried to poach him every season, and it seems that perrault has done just fine for you...find some heart....some grit...some tenacity...

I was going to come on here and tear a strip off of Sandlak, but you beat me to it Barrack. Sandlak's consumption of A&W burgers creating methane gas keeps him flapping at the yap, with no credibability or integrity. Were all still Waiting, like last year and Iam sure the year before ................ Sandlak if you offer to do something do it....... instead of wasting everybody's time and only amusing Rod down the road, who has nothing to say.

round 2 stats will be updated...thanks for your support Steely...

i also was impressed with smithers speed and skill this year, very entertaining but 2 years ago we lost,last year we lost,this year we lost. thats what sandlak was talking about.

I think all Sandlak is trying to say is that each of the last two seasons Smithers has had what some people would consider the best team in the league, but when the playoffs roll around they can't win the big game/series. Now some of that has to be attributed to the quality of the teams they lost to, but maybe some of that is Smithers not finding a way to get it done? Beating Terrace, Omineca and Rupert is expected, but now it's time to take out one of the upper echelon teams to validate how good you guys think you are.

How did the Steelheads get on this thread?

We should now be cheering on the Stamps and the Demons, there is plenty of time later to get in to the politics of our great game, CIHL, Teams.
Like most teams, there is a lot of baggage, some teams are sorting through trunks, and I do not mean players.


Go Demons - Go Stamps Go