The Ponoka Stampeders had much to celebrate on their first pre-season game.
The Stamps played at home Sept. 9 against the Leduc Riggers finishing with a solid 6-2 win. The team, which had a full roster that night, seemed to be playing well with passes going to the right player at the right time.
Coach Matt Williams was pleased with the showing.
“They just played really hard,” said Williams. “They were playing for the guy beside them. They were playing for a new beginning.”
He was proud of the strong performance during this pre-season game with players showing no signs of quitting.
“Shift in, shift out, there was effort,” said Williams.
That says to him that the team can be built up. Seeing such strong effort he suggests there’s very little that can’t be done.
At the end of the first period the Stamps were up 1-0 but it was in the second period that things started to heat up with Ponoka scoring four of its six goals. Players jumped at every rebound and kept up the intensity, which helped ensure the win.
“These are good men. They try really hard. They listen to you. They want to do better,” said Williams.
“As the first game as the head coach, they did everything I asked for and a bit more,” he said, adding that everyone’s got a bit of an extra jump in their step.
The next day the Stamps played Stettler but lost a close game 6-4.