Ryan Graham, Observer Reporter
The Quesnel Kangaroos were on the wrong side of the scoreboard last weekend, where they went down to the Terrace River Kings 7-2 in their final game of the regular season.It was a full house Saturday as the hometown fans came out to support their Kangaroos, but unfortunately they didn’t get the result they were looking for.
The start of the first was an even matchup between the two clubs with both demonstrating good skill but as the period went on it would be Terrace who would get the first break as they put home the first goal of the game, beating Quesnel’s Shane Mainprize up high.
The River Kings would keep the pressure on as they would get another two to extend their lead. Terrace would once again open up the scoring in the second as they put another two past Mainprize, which resulted in him getting pulled from the game, after surrendering five goals.
Backup goaltender Reign Turley would enter and calm the storm, making a number of stops to give the Kangaroos an opportunity to get back in the game.
Even with the score Quesnel had a number of chances to get back in the game but just couldn’t capitalize. As the period came to an end the physicality and intensity would pick up as there were a number of big hits and fights that took place as both teams were looking to send messages heading into the third. The final period would see Terrace open the scoring with a power play goal 4:19 into the period, increasing their lead to six.
After surrendering their sixth of the game the Kangaroos would finally show some life as they scored two quick one’s, courtesy of Lane Vandewetering and Justin Fulton but it would not be enough as the River Kings would add another to go home with the win.
The Kangaroos finished the regular season in fifth place with a record of six wins, nine loses and one overtime loss for 13 points. Quesnel will now go on to face the second ranked Smithers Steelheads in the playoffs with their first game Feb. 4th in Quesnel in a best of three games.
The Kangaroos split their season series with the Steelheads, with Quesnel winning 9-4 at home on Oct. 8, 2016 and the Steelheads taking the other contest 7-4 on Jan. 15 in Smithers. Puck drop on Saturday is at 7:30 p.m.