The Williams Lake Stampeders were handed their first defeat of the Central Interior Hockey League season Saturday when the visiting Quesnel Kangaroos stormed into the lakecity a determined bunch.
The Kangaroos, on the strength of three late, unanswered third-period goals sent Williams Lake fans, who were celebrating the Stamps’ Halloween-themed game, home with tricks instead of treats in what was an action-packed, exciting hockey game at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.
Williams Lake, coming into Saturday’s contest with a perfect five-win, no-loss record (including its home opener over the Kangaroos, 7-3), got on the board first as David Gore lit the lamp early on in the first period much to the excitement of the hometown fans.
Read more: Stamps send ‘Roos hopping home in season opener
Quesnel’s Nick Tomassetti would silence lakecity fans late in the period, sending the contest into the second period laced up at 1-1 with a late goal on Stamps’ netminder Willie Sellars.
In the second, Ryan Yaworski and Chad Wilde gave the Stampeders a two-goal cushion, before Quesnel answered back to bring the ‘Roos to a one-goal deficit early on.
Nathan Zurak, with 12:10 remaining in the period, again extended Williams Lake’s lead to 4-2, however, Quesnel once again responded with two late goals — the last Tomassetti’s second of the night to tie it up a 4-4 — with 1:20 remaining in the period.
Williams Lake’s Andrew Fisher gave the hometown side a 5-4 lead and another one-goal advantage early, but it was all Quesnel from there as the team notched three unanswered goals — the last, Tomassetti’s hat trick goal on an empty net — to secure the 7-5 victory and improve to three wins and two losses on the season.
Read more: Stamps dominant in back-to-back weekend wins
On Saturday, Nov. 10, the Stampeders will have a chance to return the favour to the Quesnel when they travel north for a 7:30 p.m. clash at the Quesnel Twin Arenas with the Kangaroos.
The Stamps then return home to take on the 6-0 and first place Prince Rupert Rampage on Nov. 17. Puck drop for that game is 7:30 p.m. at the CMRC.
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