The Stampede recorded two big wins against the Auckland Mako for the defending champions to remain at the top of the national men’s ice hockey league table.
Playing at home in Queenstown, the Stampede thumped the Mako 11-2 on Friday.
It was a red-hot start where Colin McIntosh and Axel Ruski-Jones each had a double in the first period to add to team-mates Jack Robbie and Jett McCullum’s goals.
Thomas Clark scored for the Makos to trail 6-1.
Ruski-Jones added another two in the second period and Maxwell Macharg, Connor Harrison and McIntosh added another to round out the big win.
The Stampeded followed up with a 6-1 victory on Saturday.
Harrison and Nolan Ross scored a brace and Ruski-Jones and Ollie Ruski-Jones added the others.
The Dunedin Thunder had a 6-3 loss to the West Auckland Admirals. They played again yesterday and the Admirals won again, 4-3.
In the national women’s league, the Wakatipu Wild had a 4-2 win against the Thunder.
Former Thunder player and Ice Fern Caitlin-Judith Heale got the Wild under way 17 minutes in with the opening goal.
But Ice Fern team-mate Sammy Heyward struck back for the Thunder to be 1-1 at the end of the first period.
Kellye Nelson added another for the Wild in the only points in the second period.
French import Lea Mullender levelled the score for the Thunder early in the final period. But the Wild hit back with late goals to Inge Kemp and Kelli Burstein to seal the victory.
The Wild and the Thunder played again yesterday. The Thunder won 3-1.
