The Sechelt Hitmen lived up to their namesake Saturday night, answering back their 8-1 loss in the season opener against the Mid-Island Blazers with an 8-2 win against the Powell River Regals in the Hitmen's first home game of the season.
Keith McKenzie, the team's spokesman and goalie (though not playing Saturday), said a combination of the team gelling, home-ice advantage and effective practice were the elements needed for the resounding win.
"Tonight was our night. When we go back up into their house, it might be a little different. But tonight, we'll take it. We'll enjoy it," he said following the game.
"I think more or less it comes down to practising. We've got a lot of commitment from the guys, which makes a big, big difference. The home ice does help a little bit, but the guys just showed up to play tonight and it showed."
The Hitmen played an aggressive game, spending most of the 60 minutes inside the Regals' blue line. Aaron Portman got the onslaught started with a goal early in the first period, assisted by Dave McLennan. Eldon Chernowsky got his first of the night before the period was out.
Most of the scoring happened in the second period with Chernowsky getting his second of the night three minutes in, assisted by Graham Sheppard and Chris Hamilton. A McLennan slap shot from the top of the circle, assisted by Paul Johnson and Bryan Polsen, put the Hitmen up 4-0. Powell River then entered the game with a goal batted in off a rebound from net minder Taylor Dallovoet's pads. The Hitmen responded with three more goals to finish the period, including two by Sheppard and by Portman, with assists going to Hamilton, Danny Baker and Mike Holm, closing the period out at 7-1.
Powell River seemed to regain some steam in the third period, taking the game inside the Hitmen blue line.
"By the third period, the guys, I think, already had the game tied up. They got back on the bench and the coach told them, 'It's not over 'til it's over, so get back to staying focused.' And once that happened, halfway through the third, we turned it around again and started taking it to them," McKenzie said.
Losing by six points and with only six minutes left in the game, things got emotional behind the Regals' net when play stopped and gloves hit the ice. The resulting fight got Johnson ejected and suspended for one game for instigating.
"Any time you go into somebody's home and you're getting whupped, it's bound to happen. It happened to us. They thumped us; we started getting a little chippy. Sometimes it's just the nature of it. Hopefully, we'll work through that," McKenzie said.
The third period wrapped 8-2 with Sheppard getting a hat trick goal and last-ditch screen shot goal for Powell River.
About 150 fans came out for the game, a far cry short of what McKenzie would like to have seen, but he said the Hitmen had to compete with dances in Roberts Creek and Gibsons and an Ultimate Fighting Championship on pay-per-view. He said word will spread about Hitmen games and, before long, Hitmen tickets will be a hot item on the Coast.
"For the 150 people who came, I'm pretty sure they got their money's worth. They'll go tell their friends and next time, hopefully, we'll have a sell out. We're all about trying to put on a real classy show here for the Sunshine Coast."
McKenzie said he has big thanks for the team's fans and sponsors, especially Gina Stockwell and the Sechelt Spiders, who helped run the bar for the game.
The Hitmen play at home next on Nov. 27 at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
