The Quesnel Kangaroos came out on top after Saturday’s (Nov. 4) action-packed game against the Williams Lake Stampeders at Quesnel’s West Fraser Centre.
Almost 750 people made their way to the rink to see the Roos face off against their southern rivals again, after the Williams Lake team beat Quesnel Oct. 28.
Quesnel started out strong, scoring two goals in the first period to Williams Lake’s one.
Paul Girodat scored the first goal assisted by Ryan Haines and Kyle Riley, and Tommy Grant achieved the second, assisted by Girodat and Alessio Tomassetti.
Tomassetti made a major breakaway in period 2 to score the team’s third goal, assisted by Jordan Lowe and newcomer goalie Kris Joyce; and Ryan Reynolds sent the puck into the net for the Roos’ second goal of the period, assisted by Brady Godsoe and Justin Fulton.
Godsoe went on to take a massive body hit near the end of the period which sent him off the ice, but he returned for period 3.
Things heated up between the two teams in period 3, with players from both teams sent off for roughing.
The Stampeders managed to score twice, but it wasn’t enough as Quesnel’s Grant made his second and third goals of the game, assisted by Girodat and, again, goalie Joyce.
In tandem with his two assists, Joyce managed to stop 24 shots made by the Stampeders.
In the final few minutes of the game, both teams were a man down after Brett DeFrais and Williams Lake’s big scorer Dylan Richardson ended up in the penalty box.
Williams Lake took a risk, benching their goalie to gain a scorer, but the Quesnel team’s defensive line held strong and the buzzer went with Quesnel up two for a final score of 6-4.
The Roos will play the Stampeders Nov. 18 in an away game, the team’s third of four straight games against Williams Lake.
Check out our slideshow for all the photos from the game: