A pair of third-period, power-play goals sparked the Rampart hockey team, but it was a strong second-period effort that led to a 3-1 victory over Pine Creek at Cadet Ice Arena on Thursday.

Anthony Apodaca’s point shot midway through the third period proved to be the game-winner, and Colton Vance added the finale less than 3 minutes later as the Rams (3-2-1, 1-0) won their Peak Conference opener.The Rams played solid defense in their own end and outshot the Eagles 11-3 in the second period and 32-14 overall.

“I always tell the kids that you can’t win a game in a period,” Rams coach Josh McIntosh said. “You play a period like that (second period), you have a lot of chances to score. The whole point is to get to the third period and hope to have worn them down and win it in the third period. The second period was good, but it led to the third-period success.”

A number of blocked shots, including three in a 1-minute span with the Rams clinging to the 2-1 lead, made Rampart goalie Erik Contino’s night a little easier.

“The defense played really well today,” said Contino, who made 13 saves in his third start. “It was a really good game from them.”

The Eagles (2-3-1, 1-1) couldn’t handle the Rams’ pressure, coach Ken Martel said.

“They basically took it to us,” Martel said. “They outworked us in almost every facet of the game. They blocked shots; their puck pursuit was pretty great. Ours was sit around and watch.”

The Rams jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Tyler Tafoya’s inside-out move down the left wing, setting up a score 2:22 into the game.

Pine Creek tied the game on Christian Clark’s one-timer with 9:44 remaining in the first period.

Fountain-Fort Carson’s Harrison Hunter (5) took a shot ahead of Doherty’s Dylan Sisneros during the first half on Thursday. Photo by