The Quesnel Kangaroos have signed a new goalie ahead of their game in town this weekend (Nov. 4) after the team’s number-one local goalie Reign Turley was injured during a game.
Twenty-two-year-old Kris Joyce joins the team this week for an undetermined amount of time.
Joyce, who is from Prince George, tried out for the LA Kings this summer, attending the NHL team’s development camp in California.
He played for the University of Windsor from 2016-17 and for the La Ronge Ice Wolves in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) from 2014-16.
Joyce will join the Roos line up for this weekend’s game against the Williams Lake Stampeders.
Kangaroos captain Waylon L’Heureux said: “Reign was injured in a game up north and he’ll likely be out for three more weeks.
“It left the coaches scrambling for a replacement, and the team was able to recruit Kris to take Reign’s place for now.”
This weekend’s game marks a chance for the Roos to face off against their southern rivals after last week’s (Oct. 28) loss to the team in Williams Lake.
The sixth game of the season saw the Roos lose 7-5 to the Stampeders.
It’s the team’s second loss so far, but the Roos remain at the top of the Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL) standings with four wins, followed by Williams Lake Stampeders in second and Terrace River Kings in third.
L’Heureux said: “[During the game on Oct. 28] the Stampeders had 16 power plays and we had none. They are here this weekend so we will have to go harder.”
Quesnel players Alessio Tomassetti, Justin Fulton, Tommy Grant and Nick Tomassetti are the league’s current scoring leaders, with 14,11, 9 and 8 goals scored respectively so far this season.
The Roos also have three or four rookies this season, and L’Heureux said they are doing well.
“When you have so many newcomers, it’s good for the team.
Some of the guys are 18 and I’m 39, so there’s a big gap in age. These new guys can play for a lot of years to come so it takes a while to work themselves into the line up,” he explained.
The Williams Lake Stampeders travel north to Quesnel for game 7 on Saturday. Catch the action at West Fraser Centre on Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.