The Elwood High Lakers leapt out of the gate as the West Coast High School Hockey League final kicked off on Monday evening at the Hodder Memorial Recreation Complex in Deer Lake.
Mason Campbell scored twice for the Lakers in a 5-2 triumph over the Stephenville High Spartans in Game 1 of the best-of-five championship series.
Kirkland Anstey, Brett Urquhart and Skylar Coates did the rest of the damage for the Lakers in the win.
Russell Duffenais and Alex Deveau responded in the losing cause.
The Lakers hung two goals on the Spartans in the opening frame, off the sticks of Anstey and Campbell. Another goal followed in the second period, from Urquhart, to make it a 3-0 game for the home team.
The Spartans stormed back with their two goals in the first few minutes of the third, cutting the lead to 3-2, but Campbell and Coates both struck in the final portion of the period to salt the game away.
Jordan Best recorded the victory in net, with Tristan Hynes taking the loss.
Game 2 will go ahead tonight at the Stephenville Dome, before the series takes a break for the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games.
Game 3 won’t be played until March 19 back in Deer Lake.
