Exciting senior men’s hockey returned to Falher in grand style and huge community support. An estimated 600 boisterous fans welcomed the Falher Piriates back to the North Peace Hockey League for their first game at the new Falher Regional Recreation Complex on Nov. 16. However, the Pirates’ party was shipwrecked as the defending league champions Peace River Stampeders doubled the home team 8-4. About half of the spectators were standing-room only with temporary bleachers in place while the permanent seating for 600 fans has not arrived and installed until December. Even with the game a few minutes old, about 80 fans were still lined up outside the main entrance, eager to watch the first Pirates’ home game since the team left the NPHL in January 2000. Deric Meunier, Donald Simard, Jason Boucher, and Kevin Desbiens scored for the Pirates who were tied 2-2 after the first period and trailed 7-2 after the second period when the Pirates had a parade to the penalty box. “We’re getting better all the time, and it’s taking time for the players to gel as a team,” says head coach Bob Maisonneuve. “The 8-4 score was not indicative of the play,” he says. “We played a strong game, but we took too many penalties.” Celebrating the return of the Pirates to the NPHL in their first home game of the season, players and fans were more than excited. “The fans were great,” says Maisonneuve. “In the dressing room before the game, all the players were saying that they couldn’t get their minds off the game all day, because they were very excited.” Coaches and players are optimistic that the Pirates will advance to the post-season play. “We definitely want to make the playoffs,” says coach Maisonneuve. “That’s our ultimate goal.” Following the home-ice loss, the Pirates travelled to Peace River on Saturday and fell 6-5 in overtime. Danny Dubois, Deric Meunier, Jason Gagne, Kevin Desbiens, and Michel Maisonneuve scored for the Pirates who led 5-3 midway through the third period before the Stampeders battled back to force the game into overtime. Opening the season on the road, the Pirates lost 8-3 to the High Prairie Regals on Nov. 8 and 4-2 to Fairview Kings on Nov. 10. Upcoming games Upcoming, the Pirates host Valleyview Jets on Nov. 29 and Grande Prairie Athletics on Dec. 1, High Prairie Regals on Dec. 7, and Spirit River Rangers on Dec. 8 at Falher Regional Recreation Complex at 8:30 p.m. Special ceremonies to celebrate the return of the Pirates to the NPHL will be scheduled at a later date after the permanent seating is installed. Falher hosted Grimshaw Huskies last Friday before the Pirates visited the Grande Prairie Athletics last Saturday.