The Terrace River Kings had their first defeat in the regular season Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL) against the Quesnel Kangaroos at the West Fraser Centre on Friday, Feb. 11.
It was the first of a split weekend series of home games for the Kangaroos that pushed ahead of the River Kings with a 6-3 win.
“I feel good—I think the boys are more excited than anything,” said Kangaroos head coach Harley Gilks.
“It’s always nice to pull that away from someone or a team or a club that’s on a roll like that, and there’s a good chance we’ll see them again before the end of the year so it’s just a nice kick-start to what we have going on.”
The Kangaroos had an eventful first period with Alessio Tomassetti scoring their first goal of the night with assists by Cam Graham and Justin Fulton.
Jordan Draper scored unassisted shortly after to put the Kangaroos up 2-0.
A fan seated in row G-5 broke into a grin after single-handedly catching a puck that flew into the crowd after leaving the playing surface at almost nine minutes into the period.
Read More: Quesnel Kangaroos split weekend games
The third goal for the Kangaroos was made by Lane Vandewetering assisted by Draper and Adam Chapman.
Cheers erupted just seconds apart by Kangaroo fans when goalie Ryan Manderson saved a shot by the River Kings, followed by Vandewetering and Eli Jarvis assisting Draper for the fourth goal of the night.
With less than five minutes remaining, the River Kings netted a goal by Colin Bell to make the score 4-1.
Halfway into the second period, the score remained unchanged as the River Kings tried to get on the offensive track.
Led by Eric Galbraith and assisted by Draper and Fulton, a goal brought the score up 5-1, however, for the Kangaroos.
After Bell scored a second goal for the River Kings with 43 seconds remaining, Kangaroos player Chase Astorino received a penalty for roughing.
In the third period, the Kangaroos added a goal by Nick Tomassetti assisted by Astorino, bringing the score to 6-2 for Quesnel.
Colten Braid scored the final goal for the River Kings to end the game with a 6-3 loss.
The Quesnel Kangaroos will host their last regular-season home game against the Nechako North Stars on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Read More: ‘Michigan’ goal helping provide offense for Quesnel Kangaroos’ Eli Jarvis
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com
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