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'Roos split weekend set of games

The Quesnel Kangaroos split their weekend games with a loss against Williams Lake Stampeders and a win against Lac La Hache.
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Chris Jensen and his Quesnel Kangaroos teammates split their weekend set of games with a 3-2 loss against the Williams Lake Stampeders and a 13-6 win against the Lac La Hache Tomahawks.

The Quesnel Kangaroos bounced back Sunday with a win over the visiting Lac La Hache Tomahawks, following 3-2 loss Saturday to the Williams Lake Stampeders.

Saturday's game saw both teams come out a bit shaky, but the Stamps soon ramped it up and peppered 'Roos netminder Ryan Manderson with 18 shots to take a 1-0 lead into the dressing room.

The Kangaroos sharpened their skates for the second period and were rewarded with several opportunities, forcing Stamps netminder Justin Foote to make several big saves, including saves from in close on Joel Boyetchko, Alessio Tomassetti and Justin Fulton.

In the end, the game came down to special teams, as the Stamps took advantage of a 4-3 man advantage eight minutes into the third to notch the winning goal of the stick of Nathan Zurak, his second of the game.

"It's frustrating but that's hockey," 'Roos assistant captain Curtis Gassoff said of the penalties.

The Stamps had another chance moments later to go ahead by two goals, but 'Roos netminder made a spectacular pad save from his back to keep his team in the game and the crowd on the edge of their seats.

"They played a solid game with a short lineup," Gassoff said of the Stampeders who dressed only 12 skaters.

"A few mistakes cost us in the end."

The 'Roos had two powerplay opportunities in the third period, but they were nullified when they took penalties of their own.

Scoring for the 'Roos were Fulton midway through the second period, to tie the score 1-1 and Harley Gilks early in the third period to tie the score at 2-2.

Foote earned the win for the Stamps, stopping 30 of 32 shots he faced and Manderson took the loss after stopping 34 of 37 pucks fired his way.

Looking ahead to Sunday's matchup against the Lac La Hache Tomahawks, Gassoff said the key for the 'Roos was to play with the same intensity as the second and third period of their game against the Stamps.

It did take his teammates a bit of time to find that intensity, but they did in the second period as the 'Roos scored six goals to rack up a 9-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Playing two games in two days, both teams slowed down a bit in the third, but still managed to score four goals apiece to round out the scoring at 13-6 in favour of the Kangaroos.

In all 11 'Roos lit the lamp, as they peppered the Tomahawks netminders with 53 shots. Paul Girodat and Elijah Hetu each collecting two goals for the 'Roos.

The goal of the afternoon came on a bang-bang play in the second period with Girodat making a tape-to-tape cross-ice backhand pass to Gassoff in the slot who roofed a wrist shot to put the 'Roos up 8-2 late in the second period.

Josh Levesque earned the win for the Kangaroos stopping 24 of 30 shots.

The loss put the Tomahawks at 5-8-1 with four games to go in their season, but they are still playing with heart, despite some key injuries on the back end, captain Robin Gilbert said.

The first-year team has had its fair share of struggles, Gilbert admitted, but added he is pleased with the dedication of his teammates.

"We have guys who come to all the practices," he said.

"We're building a team, we know we're not going to be successful right off the bat."

Despite the difficulties, Gilbert said it was easy to hit the ice for practices and games.

"I get to play with my best friends," he said.

"I play for the love of the game."

The win against the Tomahawks puts the 'Roos atop the CIHL eastern division standings with 22 points, two points ahead of the Stamps.

However, the Stamps have two games in hand as the teams head into the final games of the season.

The Kangaroos have two regular season games remaining, Jan. 7, 2012 in Lac La Hache against the Tomahawks and Jan. 14, 2012 in Quesnel against the Tomahawks.

The Kangaroos are assured of a spot in the playoffs, as the top two teams in each division advance along with two wild card teams  with the highest points total.

At present there are four teams that can't catch the Kangaroos in the standings.