The Prince Rupert Rampage opened the 2024-2025 Central Interior Hockey League season with a full house Sept. 28 and a decisive win over the visiting Nechako Northstars.
It was not long after the initial puck drop that the stage was set for a serious shellacking of the Stars as defenceman Reid Lindsay bulged the twine within the first 36 seconds of the game followed by a second goal by forward Tyler Halliday at 18:27 remaining in the first period.
The Rampage would put up another first-period marker (Hunter Johnson) and two more in the second period (Brody Hemrich, Judd Repole) before the Vanderhoof/Fort St. James squad was able to etch their lone goal of the night onto the scoreboard. That came from Matthew Werstuik assisted by captain Piers Egan and Ethan Jett-Saharchuk.
From there, though, it was all Rampage with three more in the second period — one from Jean-Luc Rendell-Fournier, another by Marcus Atchison and a second by Lindsay. The home team took an 8-1 lead into the final frame.
In the third period, Tyler Dominic Matalone and Jared Carter added to the lopsided result for a final score of 10-1.
Lindsay racked up a total of four points with two goals and two assists in the 60 minutes. Repole also had two assists for a total of three points.
Rampage fans also got their first look at new goaltender Frank Slubowski, who let in just one goal and finished the game with a .941 save percentage.
Slubowski, now 33, played Junior A hockey in Port Alberni from 2008-2011 before heading off to Western Michigan University (WMU), a Tier 1 NCAA school. He played four years at WMU recording a 2.34 goals against average (GAA) and .909 save percentage.
In 2015, he signed a professional contract with Orlik Opole, a team in the Polska Hokej Liga (Polish Hockey League). In his one season in Poland, his GAA was 2.98 with a save percentage of .907.
Prior to the puck drop, the Rampage recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with a performance by Prince Rupert area First Nations dancers and drummers.
