The Quesnel River Rush scored their first win of the regular season against the Osoyoos Coyotes 5-3 at the West Fraser Centre Saturday (Sept. 28).
With the game being two days before National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the team debuted its third jerseys. They have the logo of the Lhtako Dene Nation above a hockey stick on the front. An Indigenous dancer also took to the ice to perform in front of the audience that filled the West Fraser Centre. As a spotlight of the Lhtako Dene logo shined down on her the players from both teams took to the ice.
The Coyotes scored the first goal of the game early into the first period. The Rush's Ian George tied the game up with an assist from Jayden Mackie and Toren Fron. The Coyotes took the lead again, but the Rush tied it back up by the end of the first period with Cash Anderson scoring with assists from Max Kinee and Josh Greenough.
The Rush took a 3-2 lead in the second period with Gage Parrell scoring with assists from Dane Dietz and Isaiah Bagri.
Quesnel's home team kept that momentum going in the third period with a goal from Max Kinee, who was assisted by Greenough and George bringing the lead to 4-2. Shortly after hometown player Liam Richardson scored with an assist from Anderson.
With less than three minutes left in the match the Coyotes scored their third goal, but it wasn't enough to break the lead the Rush had.
As the clock went down to a minute of game time left, the crowd broke out into cheers as the Rush's win was guaranteed. The team had a big celebration and looked very happy with themselves as they celebrated on the ice and as they came off it.
The next River Rush home games are on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the West Fraser Centre.
Coming up before that is the home opener for the Quesnel Kangaroos on Oct. 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the West Fraser Centre.
