After weeks away, the Quesnel Kangaroos finally brought the game home, facing off against the Williams Lake Stampeders, Saturday Dec. 27.
Taking the lead in the Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL), the Stampeders provided tough competition for the ’Roos.
The visiting team took the lead, scoring three goals in the first period.
The ’Roos fired 25 shots at the opposing goalie in the first period, but to no avail.
The first period ended with the Stampeders skating away with a three-goal lead.
It was clear that the ’Roos would have to skate their hardest to catch up to the Stampeders, but they seemed more than up to the task.
As the buzzer sounded, calling the players back onto the ice the ’Roos jumped into action with a renewed determination.
Win or lose the ’Roos were going to provide a tough challenge for their competition.
Alessio Tomassetti skated in only two minutes and 48 second into the second period to score the ’Roos first goal of the night, assisted by Justin Fulton and Coltin De Frais.
The home team quickly followed this up with yet another goal, scored by Mitch Galbraith with the help of Nick Tomassetti and Ryan Skinner.
Only seven minutes and five second into the second period the ’Roos had managed to bring the score to 3-2.
Feeling the pressure of the advancing ’Roos, the Stampeders seemed determined to keep the lead.
Stampeders Matt Lees skated by his opponents nearing the end of the second period to score the visiting team’s fourth goal of the night this time on a power play, with the help of fellow Stampeders Kurtis Bon and Aaron Zurak.
The visiting team still held onto the lead, but this time only by two points and the ’Roos were not backing down just yet.
The third period started with a score of 4-2 in favour of Williams Lake, but this would the ’Roos period to shine.
Though Williams Lake scored the first goal of the final period, bringing in their fifth goal of the night the ’Roos quickly retaliated, goal after goal.
’Roo Paul Girodat, assisted by Galbraith and Nick Tomassetti, skated in for what would be the first of many consecutive goals for the ’Roos.
Alessio Tomassetti quickly followed this goal with one of his own, scoring the fourth goal of the night for the ’Roos unassisted.
Bringing the fifth goal and tying up the score was Daryl Gagnon with the help of fellow Kangaroos Ashton Rai and goalie Ryan Manderson.
However, a tied score was not enough for the determined ’Roos and Coltin De Frais skated in, unassisted, for the ’Roos sixth goal. This put the home team one goal ahead of their opponents.
This victory was short lived however as the Stampeders skated in to tie up the score once more.
With neither team able to advance in the final minutes of the third period the game went into overtime.
The score was 6-6 and only one goal was needed to decide the victor and only 48 seconds in the Stampeders scored their seventh and final goal of the night just barely taking the win in this nail-biting event.
The next game for the ’Roos puts them face-to-face against the Lac La Hache Tomahawks, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Twin Arenas. This is the final home game before the playoffs begin, it’s a must see for ever fan of the Quesnel Kanagroos.
