Last Thursday’s pre-Halloween North Peace Hockey League match between Falher and Lakeland in McLennan held more tricks than treats for the hometown Eagles. Lakeland resembled anything but the powerhouse team which appeared in the league’s Campbell Cup final the past two years after being shell-shocked 11-6 by their arch rivals, the Falher Pirates, at H.W. Fish Arena in McLennan Oct. 30. Falher’s dominance over Lakeland in the game was highlighted by stingy goaltending from Les Montpellier, coupled with an explosive first line of offence which combined for 15 points including eight goals and seven assists. Leading the way was left winger Dan Aubin, who buried an unprecedented six goals – a feat which has never been accomplished in the history of the Pirates organization. “We were definitely clicking out there as a unit,” says Jason Bouchard, who centred the line with Aubin and right winger Ryan Hicks, and scored two goals while adding four helpers. He said one of the biggest contributing factors to the win was the team’s level of conditioning and overall energy level. “I think we were much better prepared physically,” Bouchard explains. “It got to the point where Lakeland – which isn’t the same team as it was last year – ran out of gas.” Rounding out the scoring summary for the Pirates in the form of solo efforts was Denis Rochon and Leo Giroux, who notched an empty-net goal. The game saw the two teams skate to a 3-3 draw after the opening period before Falher kicked their offence into high gear in the middle stanza by outscoring the opposition 4-2 for a 7-5 lead after forty minutes. Lakeland made it interesting in the third after trimming the lead to 7-6, but that was as close as they would get to the Pirates, which responded with four more goals to snuff out any chance of a late game surge by the Eagles. The Eagles got their offence from Jay Anderson in the form of two goals with singles coming off the stick of Clayton Cunningham, James Tallman, Jeremy Belcourt and Bobby Carifelle. Both teams scored five power-play goals in the game, which featured 98 penalty minutes. Pirates head coach Dan Bouchard described the win over Lakeland as a good first step, one which he hopes the team can build from. “Starting the season off with a victory against Lakeland is definitely a huge confidence builder for us as a team,” says Bouchard, who put the win into perspective following the game. “Sure, it feels great, but we’re well aware of the fact that it’s only one game. There’s still a lot of hockey ahead of us. We’re just taking it one game at a time.” Next action for the Pirates is Thursday, Nov. 6 when the club hosts Peace River. Falher hosts the High Prairie Regals the following night. Game time is 8:30 p.m. on both nights. Lakeland, still winless on the season after losing its first game to High Prairie 12-7 Oct. 25, host the Valleyview Jets Nov. 6 before heading to Fairview on Nov. 8.