A battle.
Those were the words Quesnel Kangaroos coach Harley Gilks described his team’s 4-3 win against the Williams Lake Stampeders Saturday, Jan. 7 at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
“Both teams battled hard,” Gilks said. “Those are the kind of games we are going to be looking for, especially getting closer to the playoffs and what’s coming down the road.”
Gilks said he never wants to say anything about the refs in the Central Interior Hockey League, but went on to suggest it is a whole league issue not a single team issue.
“I think the whole league needs to do more with the refs and not have so many local refs at so many local teams’ [games]. I think that’s going to make a big difference for the league. This league is getting faster.”
Scoring for the Roos were Jordan Draper at 8:33 into the first period, assisted by Eric Galbraith and Brett Mero.
Brody Dyck scored in the second period at 13:08, assisted by Alessio Tomassetti and Jordan Low.
In the third period, Bryan Albee scored, assisted by Mero at 17:20 and Draper scored his second goal at 2:47 assisted by Chad Kimme.
The team amassed nine penalties for a total of 26 minutes and goaltender Alex Wright stopped 25 shots on the net.
With Saturday’s win behind them, the Roos will play on home ice against Nechako Northstars on Friday, Jan. 13 and Smithers Steelheads on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Gilks said there about five rookies on the team and a couple of players that are second-years.
“It helps having that experience on the bench. A couple of our top-end guys they played a lot of hockey and they know what to do in key situations and under pressure and handle themselves more than willingly.”
Standing about two metres away from the team’s bench was Sheila Bisson who has volunteered for the team the last six years. Now that she is retired at 72 she said it is her way of giving back to the community.
“This team is my second family,” she said smiling.
monica.lamb-yorski@wltribune.com
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